Compared to public schools, these institutions are renowned for their rigorous academics, extensive extracurricular opportunities, and pathways to prestigious universities. However, such excellence comes at a significant cost. With annual tuition fees rivaling those of Ivy League universities, these schools represent the pinnacle of private secondary education. In this article, we explore the top 10 most expensive boarding schools in the United States, their unique offerings, and the reasons behind their high price tags.
So, what justifies the high tuition fees of U.S. boarding schools? And why do they attract so many families eyeing for admission?
The American news website Quartz recently ranked and compiled statistics on the tuition fees for U.S. boarding high schools for the 2024-2025 academic year. Let’s take a look at the top 10 most expensive boarding high schools in the United States!
Want to improve your GPA in middle school and high school?
The 10 Most Expensive Boarding High Schools in the U.S.
According to a recent ranking by the U.S. news site Quartz for the 2024-2025 academic year, here are the top 10 most expensive U.S. boarding schools.
In terms of tuition fees, some schools combine boarding and tuition costs, while others separate them. For consistency, we’ve used the largest amount quoted by each school.
It’s evident that the annual tuition fees for these schools range from $78,000 to nearly $90,000. This is comparable to tuition costs at many U.S. universities.
Interestingly, the geographical distribution of these schools reveals that California dominates with five schools on the list, including:
- Woodside Priory School (Ranked #1)
- The Athenian School (Ranked #2)
- San Domenico School (Ranked #4)
- The Webb Schools (Ranked #5)
- Cate School (Ranked #6)
In contrast, Massachusetts only features two schools: Brooks School (Ranked #8) and Concord Academy (Ranked #10).
Other states represented include Texas (The Village School, Ranked #3), New Jersey (The Lawrenceville School, Ranked #7), and Rhode Island (St. George’s School, Ranked #9).
Details of 10 Boarding High Schools in the United States
Located in California, this co-ed Catholic school was founded in 1957 and serves grades 6–12 with approximately 434 students. The average class size is 13.
2024–25 boarding fees:
- Tuition and boarding: $89,315
- Student activity fee: $600
Total: $89,915
Admissions data (2019–2024):
- Harvard: 1–2 students
- Yale: No data
- Princeton: 5+ students
- Stanford: 5+ students
- MIT: No data
This co-ed California school was founded in 1965 and serves grades 6–12, with 355 high school students and an average class size of 15.
2024–25 boarding fees:
- Domestic students: $87,760
- International students: $89,750
Admissions data (2021–2024):
- Yale: 2 students
- Stanford: 2 students
Located in Texas, this co-ed IB school was founded in 1966 and serves Pre-K through 12th grade with 661 high school students.
2024–25 boarding fees:
- Tuition and boarding: $79,200
- Student fees: $6,350
Total: $85,550
Based in California, this co-ed school was founded in 1850 and serves K–12 with 680 students.
2024–25 fees:
- Tuition: $81,000
- Additional fees for activities, off-campus education, boarding, and residential life
The Webb Schools in California is a collective term for two connected boarding schools: the Webb School of California for boys and the Vivian Webb School for girls.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition for the 2024-25 academic year is $80,835, with no further details provided.
The school has not disclosed specific enrollment data, but in previous years, students have been admitted to universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.
Cate School, located in California, is a small co-educational institution founded in 1910, serving grades 9-12 with a total student body of approximately 310.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition for the 2024-25 academic year is $79,980, with no further details provided.
Focusing solely on admissions to top universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT), the matriculation data for Cate School’s Class of 2020-2024 is as follows:
- Harvard University: 4 students
- Yale University: 7 students
- Princeton University: 3 students
- Stanford University: 5 students
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 1 student
The Lawrenceville School, located in New Jersey, is a co-educational institution founded in 1810, serving grades 9-12 with a total student body of approximately 822.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition and additional fees for the 2024-25 academic year are as follows:
- Boarding tuition: $79,500
- Additional charges for books, insurance, and other fees
Focusing on admissions to top universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT), the matriculation data for Lawrenceville School over the past five years is as follows:
- Harvard University: 23 students
- Yale University: 18 students
- Princeton University: 36 students
- Stanford University: 12 students
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 9 students
The Brooks School, located in Massachusetts, is a co-educational boarding school founded in 1926, serving grades 9-12 with a total student body of approximately 360.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition and additional fees for the 2024-25 academic year are as follows:
- Boarding tuition: $77,100
- Student insurance: $732 (higher for international students)
- Laundry fee: $1,091
- Total: $78,923
The school has only disclosed matriculation data for the Class of 2024, though it did not include data for Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, or MIT. However, the school has had strong admissions outcomes with top universities, including:
- Boston University: 5 students
- Brown University: 1 student
- Cornell University: 2 students
- Dartmouth College: 1 student
- Georgetown University: 1 student
The St. George’s School, located in Rhode Island, is a co-educational Episcopal boarding school founded in 1896, serving grades 9-12 with a total student body of approximately 381.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition and additional fees for the 2024-25 academic year are as follows:
- Tuition: $76,050
- Computer program fee: $2,600
- Technology fee: $250
- Total: $78,900
Looking specifically at admissions data for the Class of 2021-2024, the matriculation results to top universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT) are as follows:
- Harvard University: 3 students
- Yale University: 2 students
- Princeton University: 1 student
- Stanford University: 1 student
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 2 students
Concord Academy, located in Massachusetts, is a co-educational boarding school founded in 1919, serving grades 9-12 with a total student body of approximately 415.
According to information disclosed on the school’s official website, the boarding tuition for the 2024-25 academic year is $78,610, with no further details provided.
Focusing on the admissions data to top universities (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT), the matriculation results for Concord Academy from 2020-2024 are as follows:
- Harvard University: 8 students
- Yale University: 12 students
- Princeton University: 3 students
- Stanford University: 5 students
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 3 students
Top U.S. Educators Leading Online Classes for Middle and High School
The information and data provided above are sourced directly from each school’s official website. Any discrepancies should be verified using the latest information from the official sources.
From the details shared, it’s clear that these boarding high schools excel in college admissions, showcasing their strong academic and extracurricular preparation.
Please note that tuition fees are subject to change. It’s recommended that you contact the school directly before making any final decisions to obtain the most up-to-date information on tuition and related costs.
