Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Rockford?

Rockford has lower average private school tuition at $10,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $21,100/year less, or $274,300 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Rockford is $21,100/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $274,300 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $6,900/year in Rockford.

How do Cambridge and Rockford 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). Rockford averages $10,900/year ($1,450 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Rockford

Rockford averages $21,100/year less for private school (194% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $274,300 per child.

Bottom Line

Rockford is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $10,900/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $6,900/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Rockford

$10,900

avg tuition/year

$1,450 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Rockford	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$10,900/yr	+$21,100
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$6,900/yr	+$10,400
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$25,100/yr	+$39,900
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$9,300/yr	+$17,900
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$10,900/yr	+$21,100
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$13,100/yr	+$25,300

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Rockford

$141,700

Choosing Rockford saves $274,300 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $548,600.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Rockford

Keith Country Day School

Independent · PK–12 · $11,200-$14,400/yr

Boylan Catholic High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $10,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Rockford breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs Illinois 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.