Private School Cost: San Francisco vs Surprise
Surprise averages $24,700/year less for private school (260% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $321,100 per child.
Bottom Line
Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $34,200/year in San Francisco. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.
San Francisco
CA
$34,200
avg tuition/year
Surprise
AZ
$9,500
avg tuition/year
Tuition by School Type & Grade
| Category | San Francisco | Surprise | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Schools (Average) | $34,200/yr | $9,500/yr | +$24,700 |
| Religious Schools | $16,000/yr | $7,100/yr | +$8,900 |
| Independent/Prep | $52,000/yr | $18,100/yr | +$33,900 |
| Elementary (K-5) | $28,000/yr | $8,100/yr | +$19,900 |
| Middle School (6-8) | $34,200/yr | $9,500/yr | +$24,700 |
| High School (9-12) | $42,000/yr | $11,400/yr | +$30,600 |
K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)
San Francisco
$444,600
Surprise
$123,500
Choosing Surprise saves $321,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $642,200.
Sample Schools
San Francisco
San Francisco University High School
Independent · 9–12 · $56,830/yr
The Urban School of San Francisco
Independent · 9–12 · $56,200/yr
Katherine Delmar Burke School
Independent · K–8 · $48,900/yr
St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Catholic · 9–12 · $24,600/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
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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.