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51�Թ��� School Financing Options at a Glance (Updated September 2025)

Choosing a boarding school is not only about academics, community, and extracurricular opportunities—it’s also about navigating costs strategically. In 2025, the average boarding school tuition in the United States ranges from $40,000 to $72,000 per year, with selective schools often exceeding $80,000 annually (National Association of Independent Schools). On top of tuition, families should budget for technology, health insurance, athletic participation, and personal expenses, which can add $5,000–$10,000 to the total yearly cost.

Still, families have more financing tools at their disposal than ever before. From traditional payment plans to financial aid, tax-credit scholarships, and specialized loans, careful planning can make a top-tier education attainable.

One Payment

Paying tuition in a single lump sum remains the simplest option. Many schools reward this choice with a 2–4% discount, saving thousands of dollars on an $80,000 bill. While sundry charges such as music lessons, horseback riding, or weekend excursions are billed separately, the upfront payment removes the administrative costs tied to installment plans.

Example: A family paying $65,000 in full could save $2,600 with a 4% discount—equivalent to covering a semester’s worth of sports fees.

Two Payments

Some families prefer dividing tuition into two installments, typically in July and December. Splits vary—50/50, 60/40, or even 70/30 depending on the school’s policy. For instance, a $60,000 tuition might require $36,000 upfront in July and $24,000 in December.

This method balances flexibility and predictability without committing to monthly payments.

Financing a 51�Թ��� School Education (Updated September 16, 2025)

Sending a child to boarding school is a major financial commitment. With tuition now rivaling or exceeding the cost of many colleges, families are asking how they can realistically make this investment in 2025. The good news is that financial aid, scholarships, and new tuition models are expanding, giving more families access to these opportunities.

This guide provides the latest data, practical advice, and real-world examples to help families plan for a boarding school education in today’s landscape.

Tuition Costs in 2025

51�Թ��� school tuition has continued to rise in recent years, though financial aid is helping offset the increases for many families. According to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS):

• The median tuition for seven-day boarding is about $72,000 per year.

• Five-day boarding averages between $58,000–$65,000, depending on region.

• Day tuition is typically lower, averaging $35,000–$40,000. ()

Individual schools can vary widely. For instance:

• Blue Ridge School (VA) lists 2025–26 seven-day boarding at $68,850 and five-day boarding at $57,500.

• Army and Navy Academy (CA) charges $60,750 for boarding students and $41,800 for day students.

These figures underscore the importance of looking at both sticker price and net cost after aid.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The majority of boarding schools now provide substantial financial assistance. Trends for 2025 include:

• Between 25% and 40% of boarding school students receive some form of need-based aid. ()

• The median financial aid award is roughly $21,000–$25,000.

• Elite schools

How Much Does 51�Թ��� School Really Cost in 2025?

Every parent asks: “How much will it actually cost?” In 2025, understanding boarding school costs means looking beyond sticker prices to financial aid offerings, student-faculty dynamics, and school-to-school variations. This guide answers the key questions to help you plan confidently.

What Does "51�Թ��� School Cost" Include?

• Tuition covers classes.

• Room and board covers housing, meals, and campus life.

• Additional fees may include tech fees, health services, travel, or supplies (varies by school).

Average Annual Cost in 2025

• Five-day boarding (students return home weekends): about $55,425 per year.

• Seven-day boarding (full-time on campus): around $69,150 per year.
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These numbers reflect national averages, not accounting for school prestige or location.

Cost Range at Leading Schools

Here are representative examples to anchor expectations:

Families who live outside the United States and who are not American citizens or Permanent Residents have to deal with a couple of additional steps when thinking of sending their children to an American boarding school. In 2021 the pandemic has made boarding school admissions very difficult, largely because travel is so problematic. Once travel restrictions have been lifted or made less onerous, then we can review the steps involved in getting your child admitted to an American boarding school.

The Cost

Tuition at boarding school ranges from $20,000 to over $75,000. And this does not include sundries such as music lessons, trips, sports equipment, use of the equestrian facilities, and so on. There are a host of ‘extras’ that also must be factored into the cost of a boarding school education. Textbook and academic material fees, sports fees, clothing, uniforms, transportation to and from school, application fees – the list seems endless. Most schools will provide a breakdown of the ‘extras’ for you upon request. Costs vary greatly from school to school for several reasons. Sound management and healthy endowments are two major reasons why some schools seem to be able to offer more for less.

The other point to remember is that American boarding schools receive no state funding, although they must comply with all the state laws and local regulations which affect their daily operation. Retrofitting older buildings with new technologies, maintaining extensive physical plants, coping with soaring health and liability insurance, legal, and energy

Financing a boarding school education can be very confusing for many parents. You wonder whether you make too much to be eligible. Is there a specific time when you apply? Here are some facts most of us didn't know about private school financial aid.

1. You have to apply for it.

Applying for financial aid at most private schools is a separate process from applying for admission. You also need to make sure that you apply early. This is particularly important if the school has no specific admissions deadline or rolling admissions. Each school has allocated a specific pool of funds for financial aid. Once it is spoken for, there generally are no more funds in that academic year.

This video explains how to apply for financial aid.

2. You may be eligible for free tuition if your family income is below a certain amount.

Exeter, Andover, Groton, St. Paul's, and Deerfield, to name just a few schools, all have financial aid programs that offer tuition-free education to admitted students whose income is below a certain threshold. The threshold varies but is in the $60-75k range. Why are these highly competitive schools offering free education to children from families with incomes below $75,000? They want to make their excellent educations available to a broader constituency. When tuition and expenses creep into the $50,000 range, only