Is private school cheaper in Rochester or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $18,100/year in Rochester. That's $8,600/year less, or $111,800 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $8,600/year less than Rochester. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $111,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $10,400/year in Rochester, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Rochester averages $18,100/year ($5,750 above average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Rochester vs Surprise

Surprise averages $8,600/year less for private school (91% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $111,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $18,100/year in Rochester. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Rochester

$18,100

avg tuition/year

$5,750 above national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Rochester	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,100/yr	$9,500/yr	+$8,600
Religious Schools	$10,400/yr	$7,100/yr	+$3,300
Independent/Prep	$38,500/yr	$18,100/yr	+$20,400
Elementary (K-5)	$15,400/yr	$8,100/yr	+$7,300
Middle School (6-8)	$18,100/yr	$9,500/yr	+$8,600
High School (9-12)	$21,700/yr	$11,400/yr	+$10,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Rochester

$235,300

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $111,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $223,600.

Sample Schools

Rochester

McQuaid Jesuit High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,800/yr

Allendale Columbia School

Independent · PK–12 · $22,400/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 Rochester breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

New York 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.