Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Knoxville?

Knoxville has lower average private school tuition at $10,100/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $21,900/year less, or $284,700 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Knoxville is $21,900/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $284,700 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $7,100/year in Knoxville.

How do Cambridge and Knoxville 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). Knoxville averages $10,100/year ($2,250 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Knoxville

Knoxville averages $21,900/year less for private school (217% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $284,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Knoxville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,100/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $7,100/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Knoxville

$10,100

avg tuition/year

$2,250 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Knoxville	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$10,100/yr	+$21,900
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$7,100/yr	+$10,200
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$21,400/yr	+$43,600
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$8,600/yr	+$18,600
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$10,100/yr	+$21,900
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$12,100/yr	+$26,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Knoxville

$131,300

Choosing Knoxville saves $284,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $569,400.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Knoxville

Webb School of Knoxville

Independent · PK–12 · $19,400/yr

Knoxville Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $13,200/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Knoxville breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Tennessee 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.