Is private school cheaper in Charleston or Erie?

Charleston has lower average private school tuition at $9,400/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. That's $2,500/year less, or $32,500 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Charleston over Erie?

Average tuition in Charleston is $2,500/year less than Erie. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $32,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,800/year in Charleston, $7,700/year in Erie.

How do Charleston and Erie private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Charleston averages $9,400/year ($2,950 below average). Erie averages $11,900/year ($450 below average).

Private School Cost: Charleston vs Erie

Charleston averages $2,500/year less for private school (27% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $32,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Charleston is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Charleston

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg

Lower cost

Erie

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Charleston	Erie	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,400/yr	$11,900/yr	-$2,500
Religious Schools	$6,800/yr	$7,700/yr	-$900
Independent/Prep	$19,400/yr	$27,700/yr	-$8,300
Elementary (K-5)	$8,000/yr	$10,100/yr	-$2,100
Middle School (6-8)	$9,400/yr	$11,900/yr	-$2,500
High School (9-12)	$11,300/yr	$14,300/yr	-$3,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Charleston

$122,200

Erie

$154,700

Choosing Charleston saves $32,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $65,000.

Sample Schools

Charleston

Porter-Gaud School

Independent · PK–12 · $25,800/yr

Bishop England High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/yr

Full Charleston breakdown → Full Erie breakdown →

South Carolina private school costs Pennsylvania 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.