Is private school cheaper in Allen or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $12,600/year in Allen. That's $3,100/year less, or $40,300 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Surprise over Allen?

Average tuition in Surprise is $3,100/year less than Allen. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $40,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,600/year in Allen, $7,100/year in Surprise.

How do Allen and Surprise private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Allen averages $12,600/year ($250 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Allen vs Surprise

Surprise averages $3,100/year less for private school (33% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $40,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $12,600/year in Allen. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Allen

$12,600

avg tuition/year

$250 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Allen	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$12,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,100
Religious Schools	$8,600/yr	$7,100/yr	+$1,500
Independent/Prep	$26,600/yr	$18,100/yr	+$8,500
Elementary (K-5)	$10,700/yr	$8,100/yr	+$2,600
Middle School (6-8)	$12,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,100
High School (9-12)	$15,100/yr	$11,400/yr	+$3,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Allen

$163,800

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $40,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $80,600.

Sample Schools

Allen

Allen Christian Academy

Christian · PK–12 · $10,200-$12,800/yr

Our Lady of Angels School (Allen)

Catholic · K–8 · $8,800-$10,600/yr

Surprise

Surprise Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,600-$10,800/yr

Holy Cross School (Surprise AZ)

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,600/yr

Full Allen breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Texas private school costs Arizona private school costs

About This Comparison

This comparison uses NCES Private School Universe Survey data, adjusted for metro-level cost-of-living differences. "Average tuition" blends religious schools (Catholic, Christian) and independent day/prep schools. Religious schools typically cost 60-70% less than independent schools in the same city.

Grade-level estimates (elementary, middle, high) are derived from the city average using national grade-level multipliers. High school tuition typically runs 15-25% above the city average; elementary runs 10-20% below.