Is private school cheaper in Erie or Lafayette?

Lafayette has lower average private school tuition at $6,200/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. That's $5,700/year less, or $74,100 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Lafayette is $5,700/year less than Erie. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $74,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,700/year in Erie, $4,600/year in Lafayette.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Erie averages $11,900/year ($450 below average). Lafayette averages $6,200/year ($6,150 below average).

Private School Cost: Erie vs Lafayette

Lafayette averages $5,700/year less for private school (92% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $74,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Lafayette is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $6,200/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. Religious schools run $4,600/year on the low end.

Erie

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Lafayette

$6,200

avg tuition/year

$6,150 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Erie	Lafayette	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,900/yr	$6,200/yr	+$5,700
Religious Schools	$7,700/yr	$4,600/yr	+$3,100
Independent/Prep	$27,700/yr	$14,900/yr	+$12,800
Elementary (K-5)	$10,100/yr	$5,300/yr	+$4,800
Middle School (6-8)	$11,900/yr	$6,200/yr	+$5,700
High School (9-12)	$14,300/yr	$7,400/yr	+$6,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Erie

$154,700

Lafayette

$80,600

Choosing Lafayette saves $74,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $148,200.

Sample Schools

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/yr

Lafayette

Teurlings Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,600/yr

Ascension Episcopal School (Lafayette)

Independent (Episcopal) · PK–12 · $14,800/yr

Full Erie breakdown → Full Lafayette breakdown →

Pennsylvania private school costs Louisiana 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.