Is private school cheaper in Bellevue or Cambridge?

Bellevue has lower average private school tuition at $18,600/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $13,400/year less, or $174,200 over a K-12 career.

How much can I save on private school by choosing Bellevue over Cambridge?

Average tuition in Bellevue is $13,400/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $174,200 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $12,700/year in Bellevue, $17,300/year in Cambridge.

How do Bellevue and Cambridge private school costs compare to the national average?

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Bellevue averages $18,600/year ($6,250 above average). Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average).

Private School Cost: Bellevue vs Cambridge

Bellevue averages $13,400/year less for private school (72% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $174,200 per child.

Bottom Line

Bellevue is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $18,600/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $12,700/year on the low end.

Bellevue

$18,600

avg tuition/year

$6,250 above national avg

Lower cost

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Bellevue	Cambridge	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$18,600/yr	$32,000/yr	-$13,400
Religious Schools	$12,700/yr	$17,300/yr	-$4,600
Independent/Prep	$39,700/yr	$65,000/yr	-$25,300
Elementary (K-5)	$15,800/yr	$27,200/yr	-$11,400
Middle School (6-8)	$18,600/yr	$32,000/yr	-$13,400
High School (9-12)	$22,300/yr	$38,400/yr	-$16,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Bellevue

$241,800

Cambridge

$416,000

Choosing Bellevue saves $174,200 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $348,400.

Sample Schools

Bellevue

The Overlake School

Independent · 5–12 · $37,800/yr

Bellevue Christian School

Christian · PK–12 · $14,200/yr

Bellarmine Preparatory School (Tacoma)

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,400/yr

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Full Bellevue breakdown → Full Cambridge breakdown →

Washington private school costs Massachusetts 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.