PrivateSchoolCost

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Denver

Denver averages $15,600/year less for private school (95% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $202,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Denver is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $16,400/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $9,800/year on the low end.

Cambridge

MA

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Denver

CO

$16,400

avg tuition/year

$4,050 above national avg
Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category Cambridge Denver Difference
All Schools (Average) $32,000/yr $16,400/yr +$15,600
Religious Schools $17,300/yr $9,800/yr +$7,500
Independent/Prep $65,000/yr $28,500/yr +$36,500
Elementary (K-5) $27,200/yr $13,500/yr +$13,700
Middle School (6-8) $32,000/yr $16,400/yr +$15,600
High School (9-12) $38,400/yr $20,200/yr +$18,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Denver

$213,200

Choosing Denver saves $202,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $405,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Denver

Kent Denver School

Independent · 6–12 · $35,200-$37,800/yr

Colorado Academy

Independent · PK–12 · $33,800-$36,400/yr

Regis Jesuit High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $18,800/yr

Mullen High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $17,400/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.