Best Boarding Schools in Minnesota (2026-27)

Top Minnesota Boarding Schools (2026-27)

View top ranked boarding schools nationwide:

Cotter Schools

Gr: 7-12 | PK-12 (day) | 450 students

Student-teacher ratio: 13:1

Avg. class size: 16 students

Acceptance rate: 85%

Tuition listed

Catholic

1115 West Broadway Street

Winona, MN 55987

(507) 453-5102

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Hillcrest Lutheran Academy

Gr: 10-12 | PK-12 (day) | 200 students

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

Avg. class size: 13 students

Acceptance rate: 70%

Tuition listed

Christian

610 Hillcrest Dr.

Fergus Falls, MN 56537

(218) 739-3371

(5)

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The International School of Minnesota (ISM)

Gr: 8-12 | PK-12 (day) | 320 students

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

Tuition listed

6385 Beach Rd

Eden Prairie, MN 55344

(952) 918-1800

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Marshall School

Gr: 8-12 | K-12 (day) | 456 students

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

Avg. class size: 15 students

Tuition listed

1215 Rice Lake Rd

Duluth, MN 55811

(218) 727-7266

(2)

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Pillsbury College Prep

Gr: 6-12 | 50 students

Student-teacher ratio: 5:1

Acceptance rate: 85%

Tuition listed

315 South Grove Avenue

Owatonna, MN 55060

(507) 214-2200

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Pillsbury Summer School Camp

Gr: 6-12

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

Avg. class size: 8 students

Acceptance rate: 90%

Tuition listed

315 S. Grove Ave.

Owatonna, MN 55060

(507) 214-2200

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St. Croix Academy

Gr: 6-12 | 500 students

Student-teacher ratio: 13:1

Avg. class size: 20 students

Tuition listed

Christian

1200 Oakdale Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55118

(651) 455-1521

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Saint John's Preparatory School

Gr: 8-12, PG | 6-12, PG (day) | 280 students

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

Avg. class size: 18 students

Acceptance rate: 88%

Tuition listed

Catholic

2280 Watertower Road

Collegeville, MN 56321

(320) 363-3315

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Minnesota Boarding School Trends (11-Year)

Boarding Schools

+133.3% (+4 schools) 11-yr

2,256

Students

+135.7% (+1,299 students) 11-yr

$34,616

Avg. Tuition

+74.7% (+$14,806) 11-yr

Avg. Class Size

-4.9% (-1 student) 3-yr

24%

Students of Color

+262.4% (+17.5 pp) 11-yr

10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio

-0.4% (-0.0) 11-yr

Historical Statistics Overview

This State (MN)

US (avg. per state)

# Schools

7 Schools

6.4 Schools

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

Trends in Total Number of Boarding Schools

Year	Minnesota (MN) Total	US Avg per State
2025	7	6.4
2024	7	6.2
2023	6	6.0
2022	6	5.9
2021	4	5.7
2020	4	5.4
2019	4	5.4
2018	4	5.2
2017	4	5.1
2016	4	4.9
2015	3	5.0
2014	3	5.0

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# Students

2,256 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	Minnesota (MN) Total	US Avg per State
2025	2,256	2,517
2024	2,256	2,453
2023	1,754	2,367
2022	1,350	2,384
2021	1,070	2,278
2020	1,070	2,144
2019	1,070	2,197
2018	1,077	2,146
2017	1,297	2,100
2016	1,297	1,980
2015	957	1,985
2014	957	1,962

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Academics and Faculty

This State (MN)

Average Student-Teacher Ratio

10:1

8:1

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

Trends in Average Student-Teacher Ratio

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	10:1	8:1
2024	9:1	7:1
2023	9:1	7:1
2022	9:1	7:1
2021	8:1	7:1
2020	8:1	7:1
2019	8:1	7:1
2018	7:1	7:1
2017	7:1	7:1
2016	7:1	7:1
2015	10:1	7:1
2014	10:1	7:1

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% Faculty with Advanced Degree

65%

69%

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

Trends in Average % Faculty with Advanced Degrees

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	65%	69%
2024	67%	68%
2023	67%	69%
2022	67%	68%
2021	59%	67%
2020	59%	66%
2019	54%	65%
2018	54%	66%
2017	54%	66%
2016	62%	65%
2015	62%	65%
2014	62%	65%

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Academic Programs

This State (MN)

Avg. AP Courses

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

Trends in Average Number of AP Courses Offered

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	14	22
2024	14	22
2023	14	22
2022	16	22
2021	15	22
2020	15	22
2019	14	21
2018	14	21
2017	14	21
2016	14	20
2015	12	20
2014	12	19

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Avg. IB Courses

None reported

Avg. Class Size

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Trends in Average Class Size

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	16	13
2024	17	13
2023	17	13
2022	17	13

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Academic Performance

This State (MN)

Avg. SAT Score

1260

1271

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Trends in Average SAT Score

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	1260	1271
2024	1287	1274
2023	1315	1278
2022	1315	1276
2021	1307	1277
2020	1307	1273
2019	1307	1271

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Avg. ACT Score

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Trends in Average ACT Score

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	26	27
2024	26	27
2023	26	27
2022	26	27
2021	26	27
2020	26	27
2019	26	27
2018	26	26
2017	26	26

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Avg. Acceptance Rate

84%

59%

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Trends in Average Acceptance Rate

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	84%	59%
2024	79%	57%
2023	79%	57%
2022	79%	56%
2021	72%	56%
2020	72%	55%
2019	72%	55%
2018	78%	55%
2017	78%	54%

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Tuition and Finances

This State (MN)

Avg. Tuition (Boarding)

$34,616

$64,455

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

Trends in Average Tuition Cost

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	$34,616	$64,455
2024	$35,302	$62,584
2023	$29,635	$60,415
2022	$31,575	$58,343
2021	$24,144	$57,017
2020	$24,144	$55,760
2019	$23,894	$54,186
2018	$23,419	$52,108
2017	$22,694	$50,594
2016	$17,045	$49,180
2015	$19,477	$47,708
2014	$19,810	$48,599

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Avg. Tuition (Day)

$16,409

$38,004

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Trends in Average Day Student Tuition

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	$16,409	$38,004
2024	$18,884	$36,732
2019	$13,320	$31,555
2018	$13,320	$30,133
2017	$12,653	$29,344
2016	$11,677	$29,140

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Avg. Tuition (International)

$41,564

$62,450

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Trends in Average International Student Tuition

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	$41,564	$62,450
2024	$40,724	$59,956
2023	$38,380	$57,872

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Avg. Financial Aid Rate

45%

42%

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Trends in Average Financial Aid Rate

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	45%	42%
2024	45%	41%
2023	41%	41%
2022	41%	40%
2016	27%	36%

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Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$10,667

$27,075

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Trends in Average Financial Aid Grant

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	$10,667	$27,075
2024	$10,667	$26,722
2023	$10,667	$26,202
2022	$10,667	$26,183

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Avg. Endowment

$7 MM

$84 MM

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Trends in Average School Endowment

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	$7 MM	$84 MM
2024	$7 MM	$83 MM

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Student Diversity

This State (MN)

% Students of Color

24%

30%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % Students of Color

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	24%	30%
2024	24%	29%
2023	24%	29%
2022	24%	27%
2021	23%	27%
2020	23%	26%
2019	22%	24%
2018	22%	24%
2017	22%	22%
2016	21%	22%
2015	7%	21%
2014	7%	21%

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% International Students

25%

27%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % International Students

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	25%	27%
2024	26%	27%
2023	30%	26%
2022	30%	26%
2021	33%	25%
2020	33%	25%
2019	32%	26%
2018	32%	26%
2017	32%	27%
2016	32%	26%
2015	34%	25%
2014	33%	25%

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% Boarding Students

34%

59%

View Data

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

Trends in Average % Boarding Students

Year	Minnesota (MN) Avg	National Avg
2025	34%	59%
2024	34%	60%
2023	40%	61%
2022	40%	61%
2021	46%	61%
2020	46%	62%
2019	46%	62%
2018	46%	62%
2017	46%	63%
2016	46%	63%
2015	58%	64%
2014	53%	63%

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many boarding schools are located in Minnesota?

There are 8 college-preparatory boarding schools located in Minnesota.

What is the average tuition cost of boarding school in Minnesota?

The average Minnesota boarding school tuition cost is $30,914 per year.

What is the oldest boarding school in Minnesota?

Saint John's Preparatory School, founded in 1857, is the oldest boarding school in Minnesota.

What boarding school in Minnesota has the lowest acceptance rates?

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy has the lowest boarding school acceptance rate (70%) in Minnesota.

What boarding school in Minnesota has the highest average SAT scores?

Saint John's Preparatory School has the highest average SAT scores (1373) in Minnesota.

Which boarding schools in Minnesota are often viewed compared to one another?

Popular comparisons of boarding schools in Minnesota include: Marshall School vs. The International School of Minnesota (ISM), Saint John's Preparatory School vs. Cotter Schools

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