PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Sandy Springs vs Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights averages $4,000/year less for private school (43% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $52,000 per child.

Bottom Line

Sterling Heights is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,300/year vs $13,300/year in Sandy Springs. Religious schools run $6,400/year on the low end.

Sandy Springs

GA

$13,300

avg tuition/year

$950 above national avg

Sterling Heights

MI

$9,300

avg tuition/year

$3,050 below national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Sandy Springs Sterling Heights Difference
All Schools (Average) $13,300/yr $9,300/yr +$4,000
Religious Schools $9,200/yr $6,400/yr +$2,800
Independent/Prep $26,900/yr $19,800/yr +$7,100
Elementary (K-5) $11,300/yr $7,900/yr +$3,400
Middle School (6-8) $13,300/yr $9,300/yr +$4,000
High School (9-12) $16,000/yr $11,200/yr +$4,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Sandy Springs

$172,900

Sterling Heights

$120,900

Choosing Sterling Heights saves $52,000 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $104,000.

Sample Schools

Sandy Springs

The Westminster Schools

Independent · PK–12 · $38,400/yr

Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

Independent (Episcopal) · PK–12 · $30,200/yr

Sterling Heights

De La Salle Collegiate High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $11,800/yr

Utica Community Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

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.