Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Newark?

Newark has lower average private school tuition at $19,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $12,700/year less, or $165,100 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Newark is $12,700/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $165,100 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $12,400/year in Newark.

How do Cambridge and Newark 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). Newark averages $19,300/year ($6,950 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Newark

Newark averages $12,700/year less for private school (66% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $165,100 per child.

Bottom Line

Newark is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $19,300/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $12,400/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Newark

$19,300

avg tuition/year

$6,950 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Newark	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$19,300/yr	+$12,700
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$12,400/yr	+$4,900
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$41,200/yr	+$23,800
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$16,400/yr	+$10,800
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$19,300/yr	+$12,700
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$23,200/yr	+$15,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Newark

$250,900

Choosing Newark saves $165,100 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $330,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Newark

Seton Hall Preparatory School

Catholic · 9–12 · $22,400/yr

Newark Academy

Independent · 6–12 · $38,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Newark 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.