Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Plano?

Plano has lower average private school tuition at $12,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $19,200/year less, or $249,600 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Plano is $19,200/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $249,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $8,700/year in Plano.

How do Cambridge and Plano 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). Plano averages $12,800/year ($450 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Plano

Plano averages $19,200/year less for private school (150% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $249,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Plano is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $12,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $8,700/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Plano

$12,800

avg tuition/year

$450 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Plano	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$12,800/yr	+$19,200
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$8,700/yr	+$8,600
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$27,100/yr	+$37,900
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$10,900/yr	+$16,300
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$12,800/yr	+$19,200
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$15,400/yr	+$23,000

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Plano

$166,400

Choosing Plano saves $249,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $499,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Plano

Prestonwood Christian Academy

Christian · PK–12 · $18,200/yr

Parish Episcopal School (Plano)

Independent · PK–12 · $24,800/yr

St. Mark the Evangelist School

Catholic · K–8 · $9,200-$11,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Plano breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Texas 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.