The Costs of Studying at U.S. Private High Schools

Studying at U.S. private high schools - especially independent or boarding schools - can be expensive. Costs vary widely depending on school type (day vs. boarding), location, and prestige, but most families should expect several categories of expenses. Written by Siyu Chen, an international education specialist at FindingSchool, this article will talk about the breakdown of the cost when studying at a US private high school, also the possible international fees for international students specifically.

1. Tuition

This is the largest cost which covers your study at schools. Oftentimes it’s determined by locations and school type. Recent reports show the average private day school tuition is about $49,000 per year at many independent schools, while the typical range for boarding school tuition is $65,000 – $75,000 per year including room and board. However, it can be cheaper when excluding the boarding part. On the other hand, different types like religious, for-profit or not, as well as other categories could impact the tuition.

Some top boarding schools in New England Area can cost over $80,000 annually, for example, The Lawrenceville School located in New Jersey, which ranked #3 among all the private boarding high schools across the US (according to FindingSchool 2026 boarding high school ranking ).

The Lawrenceville School

#3 among Private Boarding High Schools

2. Additional fees and living expenses

Schools are not just for study, so besides tuition, families should budget for several extra costs:

Application and admission:

Schools usually have application fees ranging from $50 to $200 per school. However many schools choose to waive the application fee after the pandemic, or as part of the financial benefits to encourage students to apply.

Families may also want to consider potential testing fees, for example SSAT, TOEFL etc. This can cost around $100 to $300. Here is a blog from FindingSchool with more information about standardized tests .

School-related expenses:

This includes student life & activities, clubs & extracurriculars, sports fees / equipment, field trips/experiential learning and school events & activities like dances, competitions, etc. Other academic related fees could be books and supplies, technology fees and laptops etc. These could range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

3. Personal expenses

• Clothing and dorm supplies
• Weekend activities
• Transportation during holidays

4. Financial aid and scholarships

Some schools offer:

• Need-based financial aid
• Limited merit scholarships
• Sibling discounts

If you’d like to read more about the financial aid and scholarships in US private high schools, here is a blog from FindingSchool.

However, many international students pay full tuition, especially at elite boarding schools.

5. International student costs

The international fee in these private institutions is an additional charge applied to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the country. The typical range would be a few thousand dollars to around $10,000+, which might already be based on a higher tuition base compared to domestic students.

You may wonder what this additional fee typically covers, and here are some common use:

International student support

For example, the international fee will cover the transportation picking up/dropping off international students from international airports, shuttles covering some weekend activity transportations and extra staff (for boarding schools only).

While FindingSchool has worked with over 250 school partners in the past 7 years, many schools host special festival celebrations for international students, like Spring Festival and Mid-autumn festival celebrations for Chinese students, which might be part of the fee.

ESL support (if offered)

Some schools include access to English as a Second Language (ESL) programs as part of the international fee.

Health insurance

Required health insurance coverage for international students may also be part of the international fee.

Homestay arrangements (day schools only)

If the school helps place students with host families, related fees might be bundled in.

Administrative or processing fees

Fees for processing international applications, visas, or maintaining compliance with government regulations (like SEVIS in the U.S.).

Sometimes the fee could be already included in the international tuition, however as an international student, you often will need more support from the school. Therefore to choose a school who has enough resources and experience to do so will be very important. Check out the FindingSchool platform for more school information, which a lot of the data especially collected for Asian students.

For families, careful planning and a clear understanding of all fixed and variable costs are essential to making informed decisions and ensuring a sustainable investment in a student’s education. - Ms. Siyu Chen, International Education Specialist from FindingSchool

In summary, studying at U.S. private high schools requires a significant financial commitment beyond tuition alone. While annual costs can range from tens of thousands for day schools to over $80,000 for boarding schools, additional expenses - such as housing, activities, travel, and personal needs - can meaningfully increase the total. So, as mentioned by Ms. Siyu Chen, international education specialist from FindingSchool, for families, careful planning and a clear understanding of both fixed and variable costs are essential to making informed decisions and ensuring a sustainable investment in a student’s education.