Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or San Jose?

San Jose has lower average private school tuition at $25,200/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $6,800/year less, or $88,400 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in San Jose is $6,800/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $88,400 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $13,800/year in San Jose.

How do Cambridge and San Jose 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). San Jose averages $25,200/year ($12,850 above average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs San Jose

San Jose averages $6,800/year less for private school (27% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $88,400 per child.

Bottom Line

San Jose is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $25,200/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $13,800/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

San Jose

$25,200

avg tuition/year

$12,850 above national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	San Jose	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$25,200/yr	+$6,800
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$13,800/yr	+$3,500
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$40,500/yr	+$24,500
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$20,500/yr	+$6,700
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$25,200/yr	+$6,800
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$31,200/yr	+$7,200

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

San Jose

$327,600

Choosing San Jose saves $88,400 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $176,800.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

San Jose

Harker School

Independent · K–12 · $48,200-$51,600/yr

Bellarmine College Preparatory

Catholic · 9–12 · $22,800/yr

Archbishop Mitty High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $21,400/yr

Presentation High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $20,800/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full San Jose breakdown →

Massachusetts private school costs California 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.