Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Erie?

Erie has lower average private school tuition at $11,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $20,100/year less, or $261,300 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Erie is $20,100/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $261,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $7,700/year in Erie.

How do Cambridge and Erie 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). Erie averages $11,900/year ($450 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Erie

Erie averages $20,100/year less for private school (169% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $261,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Erie is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $7,700/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Erie

$11,900

avg tuition/year

$450 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Erie	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$11,900/yr	+$20,100
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$7,700/yr	+$9,600
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$27,700/yr	+$37,300
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$10,100/yr	+$17,100
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$11,900/yr	+$20,100
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$14,300/yr	+$24,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Erie

$154,700

Choosing Erie saves $261,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $522,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Erie

Cathedral Preparatory School (Erie)

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Mercyhurst Preparatory School

Catholic · PK–12 · $12,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Erie breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Pennsylvania 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.