What does a U.S. boarding school really cost? A budget checklist beyond tuition
The big costs set by the school
- Tuition and boarding. The main cost, set by each school and different for boarding and day students. Always use the school's current published figure and the school year it applies to.
- Fees. Many schools add fees for things like technology, activities, or an enrollment deposit. Ask what is included in tuition and what is extra.
- Health insurance. Many schools require international students to have insurance. Ask whether the school's plan is required and what it costs.
Costs before you arrive (as of October 2026)
- Application fees. Each school sets its own. Some waive it.
- Admission and English tests. For example, the SSAT is $177 for a paper test in the United States or Canada and $339 outside it, and the ISEE is $170 at a school for grades 5 to 12. A TOEFL iBT costs $280 in the United States and varies by country. The Duolingo English Test is US$70. See the English test comparison.
- I-901 SEVIS fee: $350 for F-1 students, paid to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before the visa interview. See the SEVIS fee page.
- Visa application fee: $185 for an F or J visa, paid for the application. See the visa fee page.
- Documents. Official translations, notarized forms and courier costs add up.
Costs during the year
- Flights home and back, and where the student stays on breaks when the dorms close. See where to stay during breaks.
- Books, supplies, a computer, clothes for the climate, sports equipment and school trips.
- Spending money and phone costs.
- A U.S. guardian service if the school requires a local guardian. Fees vary, so get the price and what it covers in writing. Read what a guardian does.
Proving you can pay
The school needs documentary evidence of funds before it issues the I-20, usually bank letters and sometimes a statement from the people who will pay. Use the school's own form if it has one. Our bank letter and financial support statement templates help you prepare, but they are not government forms.
How to compare schools
- Ask each school for a full written cost sheet for international boarding students for the year you will enroll.
- Ask about financial aid for international students, the form and the deadline.
- Put every cost in one table, including travel and the guardian.
- Confirm everything with the school. Prices change every year.
Browse boarding schools and read where our information comes from.
Questions
Do boarding schools give financial aid to international students?
Some do, but policies differ a lot and aid for international families is often limited. Ask each school whether it offers aid to international students, which form it uses and its aid deadline, which is often earlier than the application deadline.
Can I work to pay for school on an F-1 visa?
Do not plan on it. F-1 students are generally limited in the work they may do, so you should be able to show that your family can cover the costs. Ask the school's international office about the rules that apply.
Where can I see a school's tuition?
On the school's own website and cost sheet, which is the source to trust. Where a school provides it, USAnaru™ school pages show tuition with the school year and the source, and you should still confirm with the school.
Related documents
Sources
- I-901 SEVIS Fee (fee amounts) — ICE SEVP
- 22 CFR 22.1 — Schedule of fees (nonimmigrant visa application fee) — U.S. Department of State
- 8 CFR 214.2(f)(1)(i)(B) — documentary evidence of financial support — U.S. federal regulations
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.
