PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Dallas vs Erie

Erie averages $5,300/year less for private school (45% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $68,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Erie is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,900/year vs $17,200/year in Dallas. Religious schools run $7,700/year on the low end.

Dallas

TX

$17,200

avg tuition/year

$4,850 above national avg

Erie

PA

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Dallas Erie Difference
All Schools (Average) $17,200/yr $11,900/yr +$5,300
Religious Schools $9,500/yr $7,700/yr +$1,800
Independent/Prep $30,000/yr $27,700/yr +$2,300
Elementary (K-5) $14,000/yr $10,100/yr +$3,900
Middle School (6-8) $17,200/yr $11,900/yr +$5,300
High School (9-12) $21,000/yr $14,300/yr +$6,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Dallas

$223,600

Erie

$154,700

Choosing Erie saves $68,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $137,800.

Sample Schools

Dallas

Greenhill School

Independent · PK–12 · $38,400-$41,200/yr

St. Mark's School of Texas

Independent · 1–12 · $38,200/yr

Hockaday School

Independent · PK–12 · $39,800/yr

Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

Catholic · 9–12 · $21,800/yr

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/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.