Founded in 1893 in southern Pennsylvania, Mercersburg Academy gives students in grades 9-12 and postgraduates the opportunity to live and learn with fellow young adults from 28 states and 44 countries.
Mercersburg students benefit from a 300-acre campus, a 4:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 145 academic courses, 27 varsity sports teams, a robust performing and fine arts program, a robotics program, an outdoor education program, dozens of clubs and student organizations, global travel opportunities, and $10 million in annual financial aid.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Grades: 9-12, PG
- Enrollment: 447 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $72,925
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $45,600
- Acceptance rate: 25%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 31
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Mercersburg Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 282 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Student Attention
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1893
1907
Campus Size
300 acres
126 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
447 students
315 students
% Students of Color
41%
25%
% International Students
20%
20%
% Students Boarding
83%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
4:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
79%
71%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$389 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$72,925
$65,563
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$45,600
$35,600
% Students on Financial Aid
46%
40%
Acceptance Rate
Application Deadline
Jan. 31
Jan. 15
Acceptance Rate
25%
60%
Director of Admissions
Grace Megaffin
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
27
16
Sports
Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track, Wrestling
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
33
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Asian Student Union, Baking Club, Black Student Union, Blue Key Society (tour guides), Book Club, Chess Club, Computer Science Club, Debate Club, Digital Entertainment Development Club, French Club, Gamers Club, Green Team, Humans of Mercersburg Club, Irving Literary Society, Jewish Club, Marshall Literary Society, Meditation Club, Mercersburg Inclusion Alliance, Mercersburg Jr. Classical League (Latin Club), Model United Nations, Photography Club, Rainbow Alliance, Science Club, Sixth Man Club, Spanish Club, Student Activities Committee, Student Alumni Association, Student Athlete Advisory Council, The Fifteen, The Hungry Philosophers Guild, The Mercersburg News, Voices 4 Justice, Women's Activist Club
Asian Student Union, Baking Club, Black Student Union, Blue Key Society (tour guides), Book Club, Chess Club, Computer Science Club, Debate Club, Digital Entertainment Development Club, French Club, Gamers Club, Green Team, Humans of Mercersburg Club, Irving Literary Society, Jewish Club, Marshall Literary Society, Meditation Club, Mercersburg Inclusion Alliance, Mercersburg Jr. Classical League (Latin Club), Model United Nations, Photography Club, Rainbow Alliance, Science Club, Sixth Man Club, Spanish Club, Student Activities Committee, Student Alumni Association, Student Athlete Advisory Council, The Fifteen, The Hungry Philosophers Guild, The Mercersburg News, Voices 4 Justice, Women's Activist Club
College Matriculation
Year:
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
School Notes
- Founded in 1893, Mercersburg Academy is an environment that allows young people to navigate their teenage years unfettered but supported and supervised. Mercersburg has nearly 130 years of perfecting what it means to be a proving ground for college and life. With students from 28 states and 44 countries, Mercersburg is a microcosm of our global community. We offer a beautiful 300-acre campus with impressive facilities, 145 academic courses, 27 varsity sports teams, nine music, dance, and theatre ensembles, 30+ student clubs, an outdoor education program, a global travel program, and other offerings. Relationships developed here are authentic and lifelong. Our faculty have dedicated their professional careers to working with teens, and our students define themselves here and graduate inspired to change the world.
- Mercersburg Academy accreditations: Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Jimmy Stewart '28 - Academy Award-winning actor
- Benicio Del Toro '85 - Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning actor
- Melvin Stewart '88 - Olympic Gold Medal swimmer
- Michael Davies '85 - Emmy Award-winning producer, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
- Rebecca Lowe '99 - NBC sportscaster; former ESPN UK and BBC sports journalist
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Mercersburg Academy cost?
Mercersburg Academy's tuition is approximately $72,925 for boarding students and $45,600 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Mercersburg Academy?
The acceptance rate of Mercersburg Academy is 25%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 60%. Mercersburg Academy's acceptance rate is ranked as one of the top boarding schools with low acceptance rates.
Who are famous alumni from Mercersburg Academy?
Mercersburg Academy famous alumni include: Jimmy Stewart '28, Benicio Del Toro '85, Melvin Stewart '88, Michael Davies '85 and Rebecca Lowe '99.
What sports does Mercersburg Academy offer?
Mercersburg Academy offers 27 interscholastic sports: Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Climbing, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling. Mercersburg Academy is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.
Does Mercersburg Academy offer a summer program?
Yes, Mercersburg Academy offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is Mercersburg Academy's ranking?
Mercersburg Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Low student:teacher ratio, Large financial endowment, Highest endowment/student, Low acceptance rates, Most sports offered, High average SAT scores and High ACT scores.
When is the application deadline for Mercersburg Academy?
The application deadline for Mercersburg Academy is Jan. 31.
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Mercersburg has an incredibly beautiful campus. It is a place for reflection as much as anything else. The gothic chapel is designed by the architect who built Princeton University's chapel, and it carries a rich. . .
Mercersburg has a unique community in that everyone is so connected and there really is a sense of family among the students and teachers. Everyone is incredibly kind, welcoming, ambitious, and curious. the relationships I. . .
Mercersburg had a rotating class schedule, and kept all classes under an hour. This way, students were able to learn for concentrated amounts of time, four hours a week, while not experiencing their least favorite. . .
Show more reviews (17 reviews)
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The nearest boarding school to Mercersburg Academy is Saint James School (19.1 miles away)
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