How many boarding school graduates go to a 4-year college? The median is 98%
The NCES Private School Universe Survey (PSS 2023-24) asks each school what share of last year's graduates went on to a 4-year college. We looked at the 219 boarding schools in the USAnaru™ directory that reported it.
| Percent of graduates to a 4-year college | Schools |
|---|---|
| Lower quarter of schools | 89% or below |
| Median | 98% |
| Upper quarter of schools | 100% |
- 75% of schools report 90% or more; 66% report 95% or more.
What this number does not tell you
- Which colleges. A school can report 100% and still send students to very different colleges. Look for the school's college list, not only the percentage.
- International students. Students from abroad often have extra steps (credential evaluation, English tests, visa timing). Ask how the counseling office supports them.
- Small classes. At a school with 20 seniors, one student changes the percentage by 5 points.
Questions to ask the school
- How many students are in the counseling office, and how many seniors does each counselor handle?
- Which colleges did international students attend in the last three years?
- Does the school help with applications from outside the U.S. and with SAT/ACT or English tests?
Read how to read a boarding school's college counseling results, then compare schools in our directory. Numbers are school-reported; see how USAnaru™ labels data.
Cite this article as: USAnaru™ — https://usanaru.com/news/boarding-school-college-going-rates-nces-numbers
Questions
Does this number show which colleges students attend?
No. It only reports the share of last year's graduates who went to a 4-year college. For college names, read each school's college list and counseling results.
Can I compare schools by this number?
Only roughly. Most boarding schools are close to the top, so the differences are small. Compare the quality of counseling, the colleges on the list and the support for international students instead.
Sources
- Private School Universe Survey (PSS) — U.S. Department of Education, NCES
- How USAnaru™ collects and labels school data — USAnaru™
General information as of Oct 12, 2026, not legal, immigration or admissions advice. Each school, the U.S. Department of State and SEVP decide; check the school's own pages and official sources before you act.
