Is private school cheaper in Baltimore or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $18,500/year in Baltimore. That's $9,000/year less, or $117,000 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $9,000/year less than Baltimore. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $117,000 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $10,800/year in Baltimore, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Baltimore averages $18,500/year ($6,150 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Baltimore vs Surprise

Surprise averages $9,000/year less for private school (95% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $117,000 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $18,500/year in Baltimore. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Baltimore

$18,500

avg tuition/year

$6,150 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Baltimore	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,500/yr	$9,500/yr	+$9,000
Religious Schools	$10,800/yr	$7,100/yr	+$3,700
Independent/Prep	$34,000/yr	$18,100/yr	+$15,900
Elementary (K-5)	$15,200/yr	$8,100/yr	+$7,100
Middle School (6-8)	$18,500/yr	$9,500/yr	+$9,000
High School (9-12)	$23,000/yr	$11,400/yr	+$11,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Baltimore

$240,500

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $117,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $234,000.

Sample Schools

Baltimore

Gilman School

Independent · K–12 · $38,200-$40,800/yr

Roland Park Country School

Independent · K–12 · $36,800/yr

Calvert Hall College High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $19,400/yr

Loyola Blakefield

Catholic · 6–12 · $24,800/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 Baltimore breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Maryland 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.