Is private school cheaper in Louisville or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $11,500/year in Louisville. That's $2,000/year less, or $26,000 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $2,000/year less than Louisville. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $26,000 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,800/year in Louisville, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Louisville averages $11,500/year ($850 below average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Louisville vs Surprise

Surprise averages $2,000/year less for private school (21% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $26,000 per child.

Bottom Line

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

Louisville

$11,500

avg tuition/year

$850 below national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Louisville	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$11,500/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,000
Religious Schools	$7,800/yr	$7,100/yr	+$700
Independent/Prep	$21,500/yr	$18,100/yr	+$3,400
Elementary (K-5)	$9,400/yr	$8,100/yr	+$1,300
Middle School (6-8)	$11,500/yr	$9,500/yr	+$2,000
High School (9-12)	$14,200/yr	$11,400/yr	+$2,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Louisville

$149,500

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $26,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $52,000.

Sample Schools

Louisville

Louisville Collegiate School

Independent · PK–12 · $22,400-$24,200/yr

Bellarmine University Prep (Affiliated)

Reference · N/A

Male High School (Public Magnet)

Magnet (Free) · 9–12

Trinity High School (Louisville)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,400/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 Louisville breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Kentucky 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.