Private School Cost: Cleveland vs Palm Bay
Palm Bay averages $1,800/year less for private school (19% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $23,400 per child.
Bottom Line
Palm Bay is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $11,200/year in Cleveland. Religious schools run $6,500/year on the low end.
Cleveland
OH
$11,200
avg tuition/year
Palm Bay
FL
$9,400
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Cleveland | Palm Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $11,200/yr | $9,400/yr | +$1,800 |
| Religious Schools | $7,400/yr | $6,500/yr | +$900 |
| Independent/Prep | $21,000/yr | $19,400/yr | +$1,600 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $9,200/yr | $8,000/yr | +$1,200 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $11,200/yr | $9,400/yr | +$1,800 |
| High School (9-12) | $13,800/yr | $11,300/yr | +$2,500 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Cleveland
$145,600
Palm Bay
$122,200
Choosing Palm Bay saves $23,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $46,800.
Sample Schools
Cleveland
University School (Cleveland)
Independent · JK–12 · $26,400-$28,800/yr
Laurel School (Cleveland)
Independent · PK–12 · $24,800-$27,200/yr
St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland)
Catholic · 9–12 · $13,800/yr
St. Edward High School
Catholic · 9–12 · $13,200/yr
Palm Bay
Our Lady of Grace Academy (Palm Bay)
Christian · K–12 · $8,400-$10,400/yr
Brevard Academy
Independent · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr
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.