Is private school cheaper in Irving or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $12,000/year in Irving. That's $2,500/year less, or $32,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $2,500/year less than Irving. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $32,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,200/year in Irving, $7,100/year in Surprise.

How do Irving and Surprise private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Irving averages $12,000/year ($350 below average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Irving vs Surprise

Surprise averages $2,500/year less for private school (26% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $32,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $12,000/year in Irving. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Irving

$12,000

avg tuition/year

$350 below national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Irving	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$12,000/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,500
Religious Schools	$8,200/yr	$7,100/yr	+$1,100
Independent/Prep	$25,400/yr	$18,100/yr	+$7,300
Elementary (K-5)	$10,200/yr	$8,100/yr	+$2,100
Middle School (6-8)	$12,000/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,500
High School (9-12)	$14,400/yr	$11,400/yr	+$3,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Irving

$156,000

Surprise

$123,500

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

Sample Schools

Irving

Heritage Christian Academy (Irving)

Christian · PK–12 · $9,600-$12,200/yr

Cistercian Preparatory School

Independent (Catholic) · 5–12 · $24,200/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 Irving breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Texas 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.