Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Fresno?

Fresno has lower average private school tuition at $10,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $21,500/year less, or $279,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Fresno is $21,500/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $279,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $7,000/year in Fresno.

How do Cambridge and Fresno 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). Fresno averages $10,500/year ($1,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Fresno

Fresno averages $21,500/year less for private school (205% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $279,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Fresno is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $7,000/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Fresno

$10,500

avg tuition/year

$1,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Fresno	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$10,500/yr	+$21,500
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$7,000/yr	+$10,300
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$19,500/yr	+$45,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$8,600/yr	+$18,600
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$10,500/yr	+$21,500
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$12,900/yr	+$25,500

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Fresno

$136,500

Choosing Fresno saves $279,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $559,000.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Fresno

Clovis Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $9,200-$10,800/yr

Central High School (Fresno) (Catholic)

Catholic · 9–12 · $12,800/yr

Bullard Talent School

Magnet (Free) · K–8

Fresno Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $9,800-$11,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Fresno breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs California 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.