Is private school cheaper in Philadelphia or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $20,200/year in Philadelphia. That's $10,700/year less, or $139,100 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $10,700/year less than Philadelphia. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $139,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $11,400/year in Philadelphia, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Philadelphia averages $20,200/year ($7,850 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Philadelphia vs Surprise

Surprise averages $10,700/year less for private school (113% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $139,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $20,200/year in Philadelphia. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Philadelphia

$20,200

avg tuition/year

$7,850 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Philadelphia	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$20,200/yr	$9,500/yr	+$10,700
Religious Schools	$11,400/yr	$7,100/yr	+$4,300
Independent/Prep	$36,000/yr	$18,100/yr	+$17,900
Elementary (K-5)	$16,500/yr	$8,100/yr	+$8,400
Middle School (6-8)	$20,200/yr	$9,500/yr	+$10,700
High School (9-12)	$25,000/yr	$11,400/yr	+$13,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Philadelphia

$262,600

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $139,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $278,200.

Sample Schools

Philadelphia

Episcopal Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $40,800-$43,200/yr

The Haverford School

Independent · PK–12 · $41,200/yr

Germantown Friends School

Independent (Quaker) · K–12 · $38,600/yr

La Salle College High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $19,200/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 Philadelphia breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Pennsylvania private school costs Arizona private school costs

Related Comparisons

New York vs Philadelphia → Boston vs Philadelphia →

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.