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Best Illinois Boarding Schools

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 2 college-prep and junior boarding schools serving 745 students located throughout Illinois.

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Saint Bede Academy Photo - With an average student population of 300, our small class sizes offer students one-on-one interaction with their instructors.

Lake Forest Academy Photo - Everyone at LFA belongs to one of four houses: Bird, Lewis, Sargent, or Welch. The four Houses compete in a series of mini competitions throughout the year, and the House that earns the most points wins!

Top Illinois Boarding Schools (2026-27)

School

Location

Quick Facts

Lake Forest Academy

Add to Compare

(2)

1500 West Kennedy Road
Lake Forest, IL 60045
(847) 615-3267

Gr: 9-12, PG | 452 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Avg. class size: 12 students Acceptance rate: 34% Tuition listed

Saint Bede Academy

(Catholic)

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24 W US Highway 6
Peru, IL 61354
(815) 250-0285

Gr: 9-12 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Avg. class size: 18 students Acceptance rate: 80% Tuition listed

Historical Statistics Overview

This State (IL)

US (avg. per state)

# Schools

2 Schools

6.4 Schools

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools
Year	Illinois (IL) Total	US Avg per State
2025	2	6.4
2024	2	6.2
2023	2	6
2022	2	5.9
2021	2	5.7
2020	2	5.4
2019	1	5.4
2018	1	5.2
2017	1	5.1
2016	1	4.9
2015	1	5
2014	1	5

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# Students

745 Students

2,517 Students

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students
Year	Illinois (IL) Total	US Avg per State
2025	745	2,517
2024	745	2,453
2023	728	2,367
2022	728	2,384
2021	728	2,278
2020	728	2,144
2019	440	2,197
2018	435	2,146
2017	435	2,100
2016	430	1,980
2015	436	1,985
2014	436	1,962

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Academics and Faculty

Midwest Region*

* Fewer than 3 schools in Illinois report these figures, so the Midwest regional average is shown.

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

9:1

8:1

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Student-Teacher Ratio
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	8.75	7.56
2024	8.39	7.42
2023	8.16	7.27
2022	8.3	7.24
2021	7.91	7.14
2020	8.23	7.1
2019	8.32	7.31
2018	8.28	7.25
2017	8.48	7.28
2016	8.26	7.25
2015	8.73	7.42
2014	8.93	7.45

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% Faculty with Advanced Degree

69%

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Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	69.43%	68.79%
2024	70.73%	68.47%
2023	70.72%	68.7%
2022	70.83%	68.29%
2021	70.05%	67.41%
2020	69.18%	66.44%
2019	63.95%	65.37%
2018	63.28%	65.99%
2017	60.94%	65.94%
2016	63.93%	65.26%
2015	64.4%	64.84%
2014	66.2%	64.51%

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Academic Programs

Midwest Region*

* Fewer than 3 schools in Illinois report these figures, so the Midwest regional average is shown.

Avg. AP Courses

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Number of AP Courses Offered
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	20.16	21.79
2024	19.88	22.03
2023	20.18	21.94
2022	21.09	21.71
2021	21.3	21.96
2020	21.1	21.81
2019	20.24	21.32
2018	19.24	21.08
2017	17.31	20.87
2016	15.33	20.25
2015	14.86	20.27
2014	15.42	18.54

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Avg. IB Courses

None reported

Avg. Class Size

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Class Size
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	14.27	12.78
2024	14.46	12.77
2023	14.48	12.73
2022	14.55	12.61
2021	14.3	12.54
2020	14.3	12.41
2019	14.94	12.58
2018	15.06	12.7
2017	14.4	12.59
2016	14.71	12.57
2015	14.29	12.63
2014	14.23	12.58

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Academic Performance

Midwest Region*

* Fewer than 3 schools in Illinois report these figures, so the Midwest regional average is shown.

Avg. SAT Score

1274

1271

View Data

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average SAT Score
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	1274	1271
2024	1289	1274
2023	1284	1278
2022	1289	1276
2021	1283	1277
2020	1277	1273
2019	1308	1271
2018	1301	1273

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Avg. ACT Score

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average ACT Score
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	27.05	27.06
2024	27	26.91
2023	27.22	26.99
2022	27.11	26.75
2021	26.94	26.65
2020	26.81	26.73
2019	26.85	26.53
2018	26.67	26.44
2017	26.62	26.15
2016	26.64	25.99
2015	26.33	25.73
2014	26.26	25.4

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Avg. Acceptance Rate

68%

59%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Acceptance Rate
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	67.81%	58.56%
2024	67.48%	57.34%
2023	67.1%	56.69%
2022	66.43%	56.48%
2021	64.47%	55.89%
2020	63.95%	55.26%
2019	64.38%	54.55%
2018	66.19%	54.5%
2017	66.13%	54.34%
2016	64.08%	53.38%
2015	63.92%	53.67%
2014	64.08%	53.7%

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Tuition and Finances

Midwest Region*

* Fewer than 3 schools in Illinois report these figures, so the Midwest regional average is shown.

Avg. Tuition (Boarding)

$45,840

$64,455

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Tuition Cost
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$45,840	$64,455
2024	$44,200	$62,584
2023	$42,079	$60,415
2022	$41,976	$58,343
2021	$40,577	$57,017
2020	$39,877	$55,760
2019	$36,908	$54,186
2018	$34,804	$52,108
2017	$34,585	$50,594
2016	$33,407	$49,180
2015	$34,243	$47,708
2014	$31,928	$48,599

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Avg. Tuition (Day)

$26,003

$38,004

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Day Student Tuition
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$26,003	$38,004
2024	$22,791	$36,732
2023	$22,203	$35,848
2022	$21,906	$34,469
2021	$23,010	$34,614
2020	$22,400	$33,350
2019	$19,453	$31,555
2018	$19,742	$30,133
2017	$19,617	$29,344
2016	$19,714	$29,140
2015	$19,017	$28,042
2014	$18,991	$27,217

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Avg. Tuition (International)

$44,501

$62,450

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average International Student Tuition
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$44,501	$62,450
2024	$43,337	$59,956
2023	$42,095	$57,872
2022	$39,508	$56,738
2021	$39,003	$54,097
2020	$38,071	$52,930
2019	$36,321	$51,250
2018	$36,825	$47,647
2017	$34,940	$45,370
2016	$34,744	$45,211
2015	$37,232	$45,218
2014	$35,431	$45,073

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Avg. Financial Aid Rate

48%

42%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Financial Aid Rate
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	47.67%	41.95%
2024	48.32%	40.75%
2023	47.67%	40.83%
2022	45.5%	39.99%
2021	46.89%	40.06%
2020	45.5%	39.31%
2019	44.56%	38.46%
2018	41.56%	37.83%
2017	38.93%	36.82%
2016	37%	36.22%
2015	40.08%	35.64%
2014	38.38%	34.99%

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Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$16,480

$27,075

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Financial Aid Grant
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$16,480	$27,075
2024	$15,983	$26,722
2023	$15,839	$26,202
2022	$16,317	$26,183
2021	$15,050	$26,267
2020	$14,393	$26,166
2019	$12,102	$26,311
2018	$11,662	$25,365
2017	$10,995	$24,537
2016	$10,519	$23,339
2015	$10,343	$22,851
2014	$9,986	$22,694

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Avg. Endowment

$105 MM

$84 MM

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average School Endowment
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	$105 million	$84 million
2024	$84 million	$83 million
2023	$82 million	$77 million
2022	$84 million	$73 million
2021	$88 million	$73 million
2020	$73 million	$67 million
2019	$75 million	$67 million
2018	$69 million	$72 million
2017	$73 million	$71 million
2016	$80 million	$68 million
2015	$64 million	$67 million
2014	$70 million	$64 million

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Student Diversity

Midwest Region*

* Fewer than 3 schools in Illinois report these figures, so the Midwest regional average is shown.

% Students of Color

32%

30%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Students of Color
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	31.81%	29.63%
2024	32.2%	29.4%
2023	31.96%	28.56%
2022	28.3%	27.27%
2021	28.45%	26.61%
2020	26.27%	25.85%
2019	26.67%	24.45%
2018	25%	23.62%
2017	22.63%	22.39%
2016	23.29%	21.58%
2015	22.14%	21.11%
2014	21.79%	20.77%

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% International Students

21%

27%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % International Students
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	20.96%	26.71%
2024	21.23%	26.61%
2023	21.84%	26.33%
2022	21.75%	25.9%
2021	21.14%	25.04%
2020	21.73%	25.42%
2019	23.26%	25.64%
2018	24.78%	26.43%
2017	26.65%	26.69%
2016	27.13%	25.93%
2015	26.93%	25.38%
2014	26.33%	25.14%

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% Boarding Students

47%

59%

View Data

Showing 2016–2025. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Boarding Students
Year	Midwest Region Avg	National Avg
2025	47.07%	59.08%
2024	49.19%	60.19%
2023	52%	60.59%
2022	49.88%	61.19%
2021	51.91%	61.06%
2020	52.23%	61.8%
2019	52.32%	62.22%
2018	49.5%	62.39%
2017	51.71%	63.02%
2016	54.56%	63.39%
2015	57.4%	63.63%
2014	56.33%	63.4%

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in Illinois?

There are 2 college-preparatory boarding schools located in Illinois.

What is the oldest boarding school in Illinois?

Lake Forest Academy, founded in 1857, is the oldest boarding school in Illinois.

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Best Illinois Boarding Schools

Top Illinois Boarding Schools (2026-27)

Historical Statistics Overview

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools

Trends in Total Number of Boarding School Students

Academics and Faculty

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Student-Teacher Ratio

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees

Academic Programs

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Class Size

Academic Performance

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average SAT Score

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average ACT Score

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Acceptance Rate

Tuition and Finances

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Tuition Cost

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Day Student Tuition

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average International Student Tuition

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Financial Aid Rate

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average Financial Aid Grant

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average School Endowment

Student Diversity

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Students of Color

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % International Students

Regional Trends (Midwest) in Average % Boarding Students

Frequently Asked Questions