Is private school cheaper in Plano or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $12,800/year in Plano. That's $3,300/year less, or $42,900 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $3,300/year less than Plano. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $42,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,700/year in Plano, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Plano averages $12,800/year ($450 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Plano vs Surprise

Surprise averages $3,300/year less for private school (35% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $42,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $12,800/year in Plano. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Plano

$12,800

avg tuition/year

$450 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Plano	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$12,800/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,300
Religious Schools	$8,700/yr	$7,100/yr	+$1,600
Independent/Prep	$27,100/yr	$18,100/yr	+$9,000
Elementary (K-5)	$10,900/yr	$8,100/yr	+$2,800
Middle School (6-8)	$12,800/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,300
High School (9-12)	$15,400/yr	$11,400/yr	+$4,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Plano

$166,400

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $42,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $85,800.

Sample Schools

Plano

Prestonwood Christian Academy

Christian · PK–12 · $18,200/yr

Parish Episcopal School (Plano)

Independent · PK–12 · $24,800/yr

St. Mark the Evangelist School

Catholic · K–8 · $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

Full Plano 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.