Is private school cheaper in Daly City or Sterling Heights?

Sterling Heights has lower average private school tuition at $9,300/year vs $20,100/year in Daly City. That's $10,800/year less, or $140,400 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Sterling Heights is $10,800/year less than Daly City. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $140,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $13,100/year in Daly City, $6,400/year in Sterling Heights.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Daly City averages $20,100/year ($7,750 above average). Sterling Heights averages $9,300/year ($3,050 below average).

Private School Cost: Daly City vs Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights averages $10,800/year less for private school (116% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $140,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Sterling Heights is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,300/year vs $20,100/year in Daly City. Religious schools run $6,400/year on the low end.

Daly City

$20,100

avg tuition/year

$7,750 above national avg

Sterling Heights

$9,300

avg tuition/year

$3,050 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Daly City	Sterling Heights	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$20,100/yr	$9,300/yr	+$10,800
Religious Schools	$13,100/yr	$6,400/yr	+$6,700
Independent/Prep	$39,000/yr	$19,800/yr	+$19,200
Elementary (K-5)	$17,100/yr	$7,900/yr	+$9,200
Middle School (6-8)	$20,100/yr	$9,300/yr	+$10,800
High School (9-12)	$24,100/yr	$11,200/yr	+$12,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Daly City

$261,300

Sterling Heights

$120,900

Choosing Sterling Heights saves $140,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $280,800.

Sample Schools

Daly City

Archbishop Riordan High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $25,800/yr

Holy Angels School (Daly City)

Catholic · K–8 · $10,200-$12,400/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 Daly City breakdown → Full Sterling Heights breakdown →

California private school costs Michigan 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.