PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Erie vs Palm Bay

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

Bottom Line

Palm Bay is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. Religious schools run $6,500/year on the low end.

Erie

PA

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Palm Bay

FL

$9,400

avg tuition/year

$2,950 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Erie Palm Bay Difference
All Schools (Average) $11,900/yr $9,400/yr +$2,500
Religious Schools $7,700/yr $6,500/yr +$1,200
Independent/Prep $27,700/yr $19,400/yr +$8,300
Elementary (K-5) $10,100/yr $8,000/yr +$2,100
Middle School (6-8) $11,900/yr $9,400/yr +$2,500
High School (9-12) $14,300/yr $11,300/yr +$3,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Erie

$154,700

Palm Bay

$122,200

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

Sample Schools

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/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.