Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Detroit?

Detroit has lower average private school tuition at $11,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $20,500/year less, or $266,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Detroit is $20,500/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $266,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $7,600/year in Detroit.

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

The national average private school tuition is $12,350/year. Cambridge averages $32,000/year ($19,650 above average). Detroit averages $11,500/year ($850 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Detroit

Detroit averages $20,500/year less for private school (178% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $266,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Detroit is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $7,600/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Detroit

$11,500

avg tuition/year

$850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Detroit	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$11,500/yr	+$20,500
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$7,600/yr	+$9,700
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$21,500/yr	+$43,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$9,400/yr	+$17,800
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$11,500/yr	+$20,500
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$14,200/yr	+$24,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Detroit

$149,500

Choosing Detroit saves $266,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $533,000.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Detroit

Cranbrook Kingswood School

Independent · PK–12 · $34,200-$36,800/yr

University of Detroit Jesuit High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,200/yr

Brother Rice High School (Detroit)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,800/yr

Mercy High School (Farmington Hills)

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,200/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Detroit breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Michigan 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.