Is private school cheaper in Rockford or Surprise?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $10,900/year in Rockford. That's $1,400/year less, or $18,200 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $1,400/year less than Rockford. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $18,200 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $6,900/year in Rockford, $7,100/year in Surprise.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Rockford averages $10,900/year ($1,450 below average). Surprise averages $9,500/year ($2,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Rockford vs Surprise

Surprise averages $1,400/year less for private school (15% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $18,200 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $10,900/year in Rockford. Religious schools run $6,900/year on the low end.

Rockford

$10,900

avg tuition/year

$1,450 below national avg

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Rockford	Surprise	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$10,900/yr	$9,500/yr	+$1,400
Religious Schools	$6,900/yr	$7,100/yr	-$200
Independent/Prep	$25,100/yr	$18,100/yr	+$7,000
Elementary (K-5)	$9,300/yr	$8,100/yr	+$1,200
Middle School (6-8)	$10,900/yr	$9,500/yr	+$1,400
High School (9-12)	$13,100/yr	$11,400/yr	+$1,700

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Rockford

$141,700

Surprise

$123,500

Choosing Surprise saves $18,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $36,400.

Sample Schools

Rockford

Keith Country Day School

Independent · PK–12 · $11,200-$14,400/yr

Boylan Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/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 Rockford breakdown → Full Surprise breakdown →

Illinois 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.