Is private school cheaper in Austin or Sterling Heights?

Sterling Heights has lower average private school tuition at $9,300/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. That's $6,200/year less, or $80,600 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Sterling Heights over Austin?

Average tuition in Sterling Heights is $6,200/year less than Austin. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $80,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $9,400/year in Austin, $6,400/year in Sterling Heights.

How do Austin and Sterling Heights private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Austin averages $15,500/year ($3,150 above average). Sterling Heights averages $9,300/year ($3,050 below average).

Private School Cost: Austin vs Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights averages $6,200/year less for private school (67% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $80,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Sterling Heights is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,300/year vs $15,500/year in Austin. Religious schools run $6,400/year on the low end.

Austin

$15,500

avg tuition/year

$3,150 above national avg

Sterling Heights

$9,300

avg tuition/year

$3,050 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Austin	Sterling Heights	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$15,500/yr	$9,300/yr	+$6,200
Religious Schools	$9,400/yr	$6,400/yr	+$3,000
Independent/Prep	$28,200/yr	$19,800/yr	+$8,400
Elementary (K-5)	$12,800/yr	$7,900/yr	+$4,900
Middle School (6-8)	$15,500/yr	$9,300/yr	+$6,200
High School (9-12)	$19,200/yr	$11,200/yr	+$8,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Austin

$201,500

Sterling Heights

$120,900

Choosing Sterling Heights saves $80,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $161,200.

Sample Schools

Austin

St. Andrew's Episcopal School (Austin)

Independent · PK–12 · $32,800-$35,400/yr

Austin Preparatory School

Catholic · 6–12 · $14,200/yr

St. Michael's Catholic Academy

Catholic · 9–12 · $15,800/yr

Hyde Park Baptist School

Christian · PK–12 · $13,400-$15,200/yr

Sterling Heights

De La Salle Collegiate High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $11,800/yr

Utica Community Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Austin breakdown → Full Sterling Heights breakdown →

Texas private school costs Michigan private school costs

Related Comparisons

Houston vs Austin → Dallas vs Austin → Austin vs San Antonio → Austin vs Raleigh →

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.