Is private school cheaper in Surprise or Tallahassee?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $9,900/year in Tallahassee. That's $400/year less, or $5,200 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $400/year less than Tallahassee. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $5,200 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,100/year in Surprise, $6,800/year in Tallahassee.

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

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

Private School Cost: Surprise vs Tallahassee

Surprise averages $400/year less for private school (4% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $5,200 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $9,900/year in Tallahassee. Religious schools run $6,800/year on the low end.

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tallahassee

$9,900

avg tuition/year

$2,450 below national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Surprise	Tallahassee	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,500/yr	$9,900/yr	-$400
Religious Schools	$7,100/yr	$6,800/yr	+$300
Independent/Prep	$18,100/yr	$20,400/yr	-$2,300
Elementary (K-5)	$8,100/yr	$8,400/yr	-$300
Middle School (6-8)	$9,500/yr	$9,900/yr	-$400
High School (9-12)	$11,400/yr	$11,900/yr	-$500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Surprise

$123,500

Tallahassee

$128,700

Choosing Surprise saves $5,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $10,400.

Sample Schools

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

Tallahassee

Maclay School (Tallahassee)

Independent · PK–12 · $18,400/yr

St. John Paul II Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Full Surprise breakdown → Full Tallahassee breakdown →

Arizona private school costs Florida 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.