Is private school cheaper in Lakeland or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $9,600/year in Lakeland. That's $100/year less, or $1,300 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $100/year less than Lakeland. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $1,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,600/year in Lakeland, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Lakeland averages $9,600/year ($2,750 below average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Lakeland vs Surprise

Surprise averages $100/year less for private school (1% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $1,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $9,600/year in Lakeland. Religious schools run $6,600/year on the low end.

Lakeland

$9,600

avg tuition/year

$2,750 below national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Lakeland	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$100
Religious Schools	$6,600/yr	$7,100/yr	-$500
Independent/Prep	$19,800/yr	$18,100/yr	+$1,700
Elementary (K-5)	$8,200/yr	$8,100/yr	+$100
Middle School (6-8)	$9,600/yr	$9,500/yr	+$100
High School (9-12)	$11,500/yr	$11,400/yr	+$100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Lakeland

$124,800

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $1,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $2,600.

Sample Schools

Lakeland

All Saints Academy (Lakeland)

Catholic · PK–12 · $13,800/yr

Victory Christian School (Lakeland)

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/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 Lakeland breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Florida 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.