Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Irvine?

Irvine has lower average private school tuition at $20,400/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $11,600/year less, or $150,800 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Irvine is $11,600/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $150,800 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $13,300/year in Irvine.

How do Cambridge and Irvine 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). Irvine averages $20,400/year ($8,050 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Irvine

Irvine averages $11,600/year less for private school (57% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $150,800 per child.

Bottom Line

Irvine is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $20,400/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $13,300/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Irvine

$20,400

avg tuition/year

$8,050 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Irvine	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$20,400/yr	+$11,600
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$13,300/yr	+$4,000
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$39,700/yr	+$25,300
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$17,300/yr	+$9,900
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$20,400/yr	+$11,600
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$24,500/yr	+$13,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Irvine

$265,200

Choosing Irvine saves $150,800 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $301,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Irvine

Sage Hill School

Independent · 9–12 · $45,200/yr

Woodbridge Village Christian School

Christian · K–12 · $16,800/yr

Our Lady Queen of Angels School

Catholic · K–8 · $10,400-$12,200/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Irvine breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs California private school costs

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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.