Private School Cost: Palm Bay vs Surprise
Palm Bay averages $100/year less for private school (1% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $1,300 per child.
Bottom Line
Palm Bay is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,400/year vs $9,500/year in Surprise. Religious schools run $6,500/year on the low end.
Palm Bay
FL
$9,400
avg tuition/year
Surprise
AZ
$9,500
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | Palm Bay | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $9,400/yr | $9,500/yr | -$100 |
| Religious Schools | $6,500/yr | $7,100/yr | -$600 |
| Independent/Prep | $19,400/yr | $18,100/yr | +$1,300 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $8,000/yr | $8,100/yr | -$100 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $9,400/yr | $9,500/yr | -$100 |
| High School (9-12) | $11,300/yr | $11,400/yr | -$100 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
Palm Bay
$122,200
Surprise
$123,500
Choosing Palm Bay saves $1,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $2,600.
Sample Schools
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
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
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.