1. Phillips Exeter Academy
Location: Exeter, New Hampshire
More commonly known as Exeter, this New Hampshire school has been the unofficial feeder for Harvard for decades, serving boys and girls in grades 9-12 (post-graduate year available).
Students choose from more than 450 courses in 19 subject areas in true Exeter style: The Harkness method, the plan that calls for dialogue-based learning. The one-of-a-kind math curriculum focuses on problem sets and seminar-based learning, tossing traditional textbooks aside in favor of student-owned learning processes. More than 80% of the faculty are advanced degree-holders.
Since 2007, Exeter has implemented a financial aid initiative that provides a free education to any student whose family income is $75,000 or less, making a truly wealthy, world-class education available to anybody who qualifies for the rigorous course of study.
Percentage of students who board: 80%
Tuition, room, and board: $57,563 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 46%
Notable alumni: Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook), Dan Brown (author), Christopher Kimball (Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen)

2. Phillips Academy Andover
Location: Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is known for its academic excellence and rich history. The school offers a balanced program for boarding and day students with a commitment to academic rigor and a supportive environment.
Percentage of students who board: 75%
Tuition, room, and board: $61,950 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 47%
Notable alumni: George H.W. Bush (former U.S. President), Olivia Wilde (actress), Humphrey Bogart (actor)

3. St. Paul’s School
Location: Concord, New Hampshire
Known for its strong STEM programs and commitment to academic excellence, St. Paul’s offers a rigorous curriculum in a picturesque setting.
Percentage of students who board: 100%
Tuition, room, and board: $62,000 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 39%
Notable alumni: John Kerry (former U.S. Secretary of State), Garry Trudeau (creator of Doonesbury), Robert Mueller (former FBI Director)

4. Choate Rosemary Hall
Location: Wallingford, Connecticut
Choate Rosemary Hall is known for its rigorous academics, diverse student body, and strong arts programs. The school’s commitment to excellence is reflected in its state-of-the-art facilities and passionate faculty.
Percentage of students who board: 75%
Tuition, room, and board: $63,000 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 33%
Notable alumni: John F. Kennedy (former U.S. President), Glenn Close (actress), Michael Douglas (actor)

5. Deerfield Academy
Location: Deerfield, Massachusetts
Deerfield Academy is a co-educational boarding school known for its rich history and tradition of academic excellence. It offers a supportive environment that emphasizes community and personal growth.
Percentage of students who board: 88%
Tuition, room, and board: $62,000 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 36%
Notable alumni: King Abdullah II of Jordan, Franklin D. Roosevelt (former U.S. President), Stephen King (author)

6. The Hotchkiss School
Location: Lakeville, Connecticut
Hotchkiss is known for its academic rigor and stunning campus. It offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including a strong athletic program and a vibrant arts community.
Percentage of students who board: 94%
Tuition, room, and board: $61,600 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 38%
Notable alumni: Tom Hanks (actor), William F. Buckley Jr. (author), Henry Luce (founder of Time Magazine)

7. Milton Academy
Location: Milton, Massachusetts
Milton Academy is known for its commitment to diversity, creativity, and community. The school fosters a challenging academic environment that encourages independent thought and personal growth.
Percentage of students who board: 70%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,800 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 35%
Notable alumni: T.S. Eliot (poet), Buckminster Fuller (architect), Robert F. Kennedy (former U.S. Attorney General)

8. The Lawrenceville School
Location: Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville is a prestigious boarding school known for its house system, strong academics, and emphasis on leadership and character development.
Percentage of students who board: 85%
Tuition, room, and board: $66,000 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 30%
Notable alumni: Michael Eisner (former CEO of Disney), Malcolm Forbes (publisher), Huey Lewis (musician)

9. The Taft School
Location: Watertown, Connecticut
The Taft School is a co-educational boarding school known for its academic excellence, vibrant arts scene, and strong sense of community.
Percentage of students who board: 75%
Tuition, room, and board: $63,500 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 32%
Notable alumni: Peter Berg (director), Horace Dutton Taft (founder), Robert Taft (U.S. Senator)

10. Groton School
Location: Groton, Massachusetts
Groton School is a small, private boarding school known for its rigorous academics, strong athletics, and commitment to service and leadership.
Percentage of students who board: 85%
Tuition, room, and board: $61,700 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 41%
Notable alumni: Franklin D. Roosevelt (former U.S. President), Sam Waterston (actor), Sumner Redstone (media mogul)

11. The Thacher School
Location: Ojai, California
The Thacher School is unique for its emphasis on horsemanship and outdoor education, in addition to its strong academics and tight-knit community.
Percentage of students who board: 100%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,700 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 29%
Notable alumni: Howard Hughes (business magnate), Cate Blanchett (actress), John Naisbitt (author)

12. Peddie School
Location: Hightstown, New Jersey
Peddie School is known for its rigorous academic program, strong arts, and athletic facilities, and a close-knit community that values diversity and inclusion.
Percentage of students who board: 75%
Tuition, room, and board: $61,500 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 36%
Notable alumni: B.F. Skinner (psychologist), Dean Cain (actor), Shaun O’Hara (NFL player)

13. The Hun School of Princeton
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
The Hun School of Princeton is a private, co-educational school that provides a supportive, engaging, and challenging academic environment with a focus on experiential learning.
Percentage of students who board: 45%
Tuition, room, and board: $60,900 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 25%
Notable alumni: Ethan Hawke (actor), Lyle Menendez (businessman), Jordan White (MLB player)

14. Mercersburg Academy
Location: Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
Mercersburg Academy offers a rigorous academic program, outstanding arts, and athletics, and a commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community.
Percentage of students who board: 85%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,400 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 40%
Notable alumni: Benicio del Toro (actor), Jimmy Stewart (actor), John Foster Dulles (former U.S. Secretary of State)

15. Salisbury School
Location: Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury School is a private, all-boys boarding school known for its strong academics, focus on character development, and beautiful rural campus.
Percentage of students who board: 90%
Tuition, room, and board: $63,400 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 30%
Notable alumni: John Kennedy Jr. (lawyer), Alistair Horne (historian), Henry Paulson (former U.S. Treasury Secretary)

16. Brooks School
Location: North Andover, Massachusetts
Brooks School is known for its strong sense of community, academic excellence, and commitment to preparing students for college and beyond.
Percentage of students who board: 80%
Tuition, room, and board: $61,700 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 35%
Notable alumni: Sam Waterston (actor), William C. Steere Jr. (CEO of Pfizer), William S. Paley (founder of CBS)

17. Cate School
Location: Carpinteria, California
Cate School offers a challenging academic program, strong athletics, and a beautiful campus that fosters a sense of community and respect for the environment.
Percentage of students who board: 80%
Tuition, room, and board: $65,300 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 27%
Notable alumni: Jill Escher (researcher), Kim Stanley Robinson (author), Norton Simon (industrialist)

18. St. Mark’s School
Location: Southborough, Massachusetts
St. Mark’s School is known for its rigorous academic program, strong arts and athletics, and a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community.
Percentage of students who board: 80%
Tuition, room, and board: $62,800 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 29%
Notable alumni: George H.W. Bush (former U.S. President), Anthony Lake (former U.S. National Security Advisor), Scott McNealy (co-founder of Sun Microsystems)

19. The Loomis Chaffee School
Location: Windsor, Connecticut
Loomis Chaffee is a prestigious boarding school known for its strong academics, beautiful campus, and commitment to fostering global citizens.
Percentage of students who board: 75%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,300 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 31%
Notable alumni: Anne Baxter (actress), George Bird Grinnell (conservationist), Charles Ives (composer)

20. Episcopal High School
Location: Alexandria, Virginia
Episcopal High School is known for its rigorous academics, close-knit community, and strong commitment to service and leadership.
Percentage of students who board: 100%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,900 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 30%
Notable alumni: John McCain (U.S. Senator), Bob Goodlatte (U.S. Congressman), Tom Wolfe (author)

21. Blair Academy
Location: Blairstown, New Jersey
Blair Academy is a private, co-educational boarding school known for its strong academics, athletics, and emphasis on character development.
Percentage of students who board: 80%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,600 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 35%
Notable alumni: Chris Christie (former Governor of New Jersey), Reggie Redding (professional basketball player), Jonathan Pryce (actor)

22. Wyoming Seminary
Location: Kingston, Pennsylvania
Wyoming Seminary is known for its academic rigor, diverse student body, and commitment to preparing students for college and beyond.
Percentage of students who board: 60%
Tuition, room, and board: $58,600 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 27%
Notable alumni: Chris Wedge (animator, creator of Ice Age), Andy Milonakis (comedian), Stephen Kovacevich (pianist)

23. The Hill School
Location: Pottstown, Pennsylvania
The Hill School is a co-educational boarding school known for its rigorous academics, strong sense of tradition, and commitment to character education.
Percentage of students who board: 85%
Tuition, room, and board: $63,300 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 32%
Notable alumni: Oliver Stone (director), James Baker (former U.S. Secretary of State), Thomas Mellon (founder of Mellon Bank)

24. St. George’s School
Location: Middletown, Rhode Island
St. George’s School is a private, co-educational boarding school known for its academic rigor, beautiful coastal campus, and strong sense of community.
Percentage of students who board: 90%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,800 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 28%
Notable alumni: Prescott Bush (U.S. Senator), Lee Hsien Loong (Prime Minister of Singapore), Shepard Fairey (artist)

25. Miss Porter’s School
Location: Farmington, Connecticut
Miss Porter’s School is an all-girls boarding school known for its strong academics, commitment to leadership, and focus on empowering young women.
Percentage of students who board: 85%
Tuition, room, and board: $64,600 per year
Percentage of students who receive some form of financial aid: 35%
Notable alumni: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (former First Lady), Gloria Vanderbilt (fashion designer), Dorothy Bush Koch (author)