Is private school cheaper in Cambridge or Springfield?

Springfield has lower average private school tuition at $11,100/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. That's $20,900/year less, or $271,700 over a K-12 career.

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

Average tuition in Springfield is $20,900/year less than Cambridge. Over 13 years (K-12), that's $271,700 per child. Religious schools are the most affordable option in both cities: $17,300/year in Cambridge, $7,000/year in Springfield.

How do Cambridge and Springfield 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). Springfield averages $11,100/year ($1,250 below average).

Private School Cost: Cambridge vs Springfield

Springfield averages $20,900/year less for private school (188% cheaper). Over K-12, that's $271,700 per child.

Bottom Line

Springfield is the cheaper city for private school. Average tuition: $11,100/year vs $32,000/year in Cambridge. Religious schools run $7,000/year on the low end.

Cambridge

$32,000

avg tuition/year

$19,650 above national avg

Springfield

$11,100

avg tuition/year

$1,250 below national avg

Lower cost

Tuition by School Type & Grade

Category	Cambridge	Springfield	Difference
All Schools (Average)	$32,000/yr	$11,100/yr	+$20,900
Religious Schools	$17,300/yr	$7,000/yr	+$10,300
Independent/Prep	$65,000/yr	$25,700/yr	+$39,300
Elementary (K-5)	$27,200/yr	$9,400/yr	+$17,800
Middle School (6-8)	$32,000/yr	$11,100/yr	+$20,900
High School (9-12)	$38,400/yr	$13,300/yr	+$25,100

K-12 Total Cost (13 Years)

Cambridge

$416,000

Springfield

$144,300

Choosing Springfield saves $271,700 per child over a full K-12 career. Two kids? That's $543,400.

Sample Schools

Cambridge

Cambridge School of Weston

Independent · 9–12 · $59,400/yr

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

Independent · PK–12 · $58,800/yr

Springfield

Sacred Heart-Griffin High School

Catholic · 9–12 · $9,800/yr

Springfield Christian Academy

Christian · K–12 · $8,800-$10,600/yr

Full Cambridge breakdown → Full Springfield 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.