Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Nashville?

Nashville has lower average private school tuition at $14,200/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $17,800/year less, or $231,400 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Nashville is $17,800/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $231,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $8,800/year in Nashville.

How do Cambridge and Nashville 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). Nashville averages $14,200/year ($1,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Nashville

Nashville averages $17,800/year less for private school (125% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $231,400 per child.

Bottom Line

Nashville is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $14,200/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $8,800/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Nashville

$14,200

avg tuition/year

$1,850 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Nashville	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$14,200/yr	+$17,800
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$8,800/yr	+$8,500
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$26,500/yr	+$38,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$11,600/yr	+$15,600
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$14,200/yr	+$17,800
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$17,500/yr	+$20,900

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Nashville

$184,600

Choosing Nashville saves $231,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $462,800.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Nashville

Montgomery Bell Academy

Independent · 7–12 · $29,400/yr

Harpeth Hall School

Independent · 5–12 · $28,800/yr

University School of Nashville

Independent · K–12 · $26,200/yr

Father Ryan High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $16,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Nashville breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Tennessee 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.