Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Greenville?

Greenville has lower average private school tuition at $8,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $23,500/year less, or $305,500 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Greenville is $23,500/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $305,500 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $6,200/year in Greenville.

How do Cambridge and Greenville 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). Greenville averages $8,500/year ($3,850 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Greenville

Greenville averages $23,500/year less for private school (276% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $305,500 per child.

Bottom Line

Greenville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $8,500/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $6,200/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Greenville

$8,500

avg tuition/year

$3,850 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Greenville	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$8,500/yr	+$23,500
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$6,200/yr	+$11,100
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$17,600/yr	+$47,400
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$7,200/yr	+$20,000
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$8,500/yr	+$23,500
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$10,200/yr	+$28,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Greenville

$110,500

Choosing Greenville saves $305,500 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $611,000.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Greenville

Greenville Technical Charter High School (Private Prep)

Independent · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Bob Jones Academy (Greenville)

Christian · K–12 · $9,400-$11,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Greenville breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs South Carolina 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.