Is private school cheaper in Erie or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. That's $2,400/year less, or $31,200 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $2,400/year less than Erie. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $31,200 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,700/year in Erie, $7,100/year in Surprise.

How do Erie and Surprise 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). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Erie vs Surprise

Surprise averages $2,400/year less for private school (25% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $31,200 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $11,900/year in Erie. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Erie

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Erie	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,900/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,400
Religious Schools	$7,700/yr	$7,100/yr	+$600
Independent/Prep	$27,700/yr	$18,100/yr	+$9,600
Elementary (K-5)	$10,100/yr	$8,100/yr	+$2,000
Middle School (6-8)	$11,900/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,400
High School (9-12)	$14,300/yr	$11,400/yr	+$2,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Erie

$154,700

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $31,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $62,400.

Sample Schools

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/yr

Surprise

Surprise Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,600-$10,800/yr

Holy Cross School (Surprise AZ)

Catholic · K–8 · $7,800-$9,600/yr

Full Erie breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Pennsylvania private school costs Arizona 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.