Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Rapid City?

Rapid City has lower average private school tuition at $5,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $26,200/year less, or $340,600 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Rapid City is $26,200/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $340,600 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $4,100/year in Rapid City.

How do Cambridge and Rapid 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). Rapid City averages $5,800/year ($6,550 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Rapid City

Rapid City averages $26,200/year less for private school (452% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $340,600 per child.

Bottom Line

Rapid City is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $5,800/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $4,100/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Rapid City

$5,800

avg tuition/year

$6,550 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Rapid City	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$5,800/yr	+$26,200
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$4,100/yr	+$13,200
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$11,800/yr	+$53,200
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$4,900/yr	+$22,300
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$5,800/yr	+$26,200
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$7,000/yr	+$31,400

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Rapid City

$75,400

Choosing Rapid City saves $340,600 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $681,200.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Rapid City

Rapid City Christian Schools

Christian · K–12 · $8,600-$10,800/yr

St. Thomas More High School (Rapid City)

Catholic · 9–12 · $8,400/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Rapid City breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs South Dakota 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.