Is private school cheaper in Surprise or Trenton?

Surprise has lower average private school tuition at $9,500/year vs $16,800/year in Trenton. That's $7,300/year less, or $94,900 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Surprise is $7,300/year less than Trenton. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $94,900 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $7,100/year in Surprise, $10,800/year in Trenton.

How do Surprise and Trenton 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). Trenton averages $16,800/year ($4,450 above average).

Private School Cost: Surprise vs Trenton

Surprise averages $7,300/year less for private school (77% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $94,900 per child.

Bottom Line

Surprise is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $9,500/year vs $16,800/year in Trenton. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Surprise

$9,500

avg tuition/year

$2,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Trenton

$16,800

avg tuition/year

$4,450 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Surprise	Trenton	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$9,500/yr	$16,800/yr	-$7,300
Religious Schools	$7,100/yr	$10,800/yr	-$3,700
Independent/Prep	$18,100/yr	$35,800/yr	-$17,700
Elementary (K-5)	$8,100/yr	$14,300/yr	-$6,200
Middle School (6-8)	$9,500/yr	$16,800/yr	-$7,300
High School (9-12)	$11,400/yr	$20,200/yr	-$8,800

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Surprise

$123,500

Trenton

$218,400

Choosing Surprise saves $94,900 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $189,800.

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

Trenton

Notre Dame High School (Trenton NJ)

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,200/yr

Trenton Catholic Academy

Catholic · K–12 · $12,400/yr

Full Surprise breakdown → Full Trenton breakdown →

Arizona private school costs New Jersey 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.