Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Jersey City?

Jersey City has lower average private school tuition at $20,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $11,100/year less, or $144,300 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Jersey City is $11,100/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $144,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $13,500/year in Jersey City.

How do Cambridge and Jersey City 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). Jersey City averages $20,900/year ($8,550 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Jersey City

Jersey City averages $11,100/year less for private school (53% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $144,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Jersey City is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $20,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $13,500/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Jersey City

$20,900

avg tuition/year

$8,550 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Jersey City	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$20,900/yr	+$11,100
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$13,500/yr	+$3,800
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$44,800/yr	+$20,200
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$17,800/yr	+$9,400
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$20,900/yr	+$11,100
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$25,100/yr	+$13,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Jersey City

$271,700

Choosing Jersey City saves $144,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $288,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Jersey City

Hudson Catholic Regional High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $14,800/yr

Saint Aloysius Academy (Jersey City)

Catholic · K–8 · $10,800-$12,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Jersey City breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs New Jersey 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.