Boarding Schools with the Least Expensive Tuition (2026-27 Rankings)

National Average Tuition Cost (Trends)

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

Total Growth: +31.1% (+$15,275 since 2016)

Year	National avg	YoY Change ($)	YoY Change (%)
2025	$64,455	▲ +$1,871	▲ +3.0%
2024	$62,584	▲ +$2,169	▲ +3.6%
2023	$60,415	▲ +$2,072	▲ +3.6%
2022	$58,343	▲ +$1,326	▲ +2.3%
2021	$57,017	▲ +$1,257	▲ +2.3%
2020	$55,760	▲ +$1,574	▲ +2.9%
2019	$54,186	▲ +$2,078	▲ +4.0%
2018	$52,108	▲ +$1,514	▲ +3.0%
2017	$50,594	▲ +$1,414	▲ +2.9%
2016	$49,180	▲ +$1,472	▲ +3.1%
2015	$47,708	▼ -$891	▼ -1.8%
2014	$48,599	—	—

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Show school map — National (Tuition range: $5,000–$134,000, avg $66,617)

Tuition Range: $5,000 $134,000 Avg. Tuition: $66,617

Frequently Asked Questions

Which boarding schools have the least expensive tuition?

The boarding schools with the least expensive tuition are Pillsbury Summer School Camp, Red Bird Christian School of Red Bird Mission, Inc. and NLCS Jeju.

How many boarding schools are ranked for the least expensive tuition?

266 boarding schools are ranked for the least expensive tuition.

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Did You Know?

Another factor to consider when evaluating the affordability of a school is the the average size of financial aid grants that a school provides.

Schools with higher tuition costs may actually turn out to be less expensive depending on how much aid a school can offer (which is also dependent on your family's financial circumstances and eligibility to receive aid).