Is private school cheaper in Raleigh or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $13,000/year in Raleigh. That's $3,500/year less, or $45,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $3,500/year less than Raleigh. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $45,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $8,200/year in Raleigh, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Raleigh averages $13,000/year ($650 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Raleigh vs Surprise

Surprise averages $3,500/year less for private school (37% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $45,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $13,000/year in Raleigh. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Raleigh

$13,000

avg tuition/year

$650 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Raleigh	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$13,000/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,500
Religious Schools	$8,200/yr	$7,100/yr	+$1,100
Independent/Prep	$24,500/yr	$18,100/yr	+$6,400
Elementary (K-5)	$10,600/yr	$8,100/yr	+$2,500
Middle School (6-8)	$13,000/yr	$9,500/yr	+$3,500
High School (9-12)	$16,000/yr	$11,400/yr	+$4,600

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Raleigh

$169,000

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $45,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $91,000.

Sample Schools

Raleigh

Ravenscroft School

Independent · PK–12 · $26,800-$29,200/yr

Cardinal Gibbons High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,400/yr

Cary Academy

Independent · 6–12 · $22,400-$24,800/yr

Raleigh Charter High School

Charter (Free) · 9–12

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 Raleigh breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

North Carolina private school costs Arizona private school costs

Related Comparisons

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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.