Arkansas has two residential schools of note: the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs, tuition-free to state residents and part of the University of Arkansas System, and Subiaco Academy, a Benedictine Catholic boys’ school charging roughly $25,000–$35,000 per year.
Key facts about Arkansas boarding schools
- ASMSA in Hot Springs is tuition-free for Arkansas residents, including room and board.
- ASMSA sits within the University of Arkansas System, and students earn transferable college credit.
- Subiaco Academy charges roughly $25,000–$35,000 — among the lowest US private boarding costs.
- Subiaco is a Benedictine Catholic school for boys, associated with Subiaco Abbey.
- Arkansas has no high-cost traditional college-preparatory boarding market.
Which are the boarding schools in Arkansas?
| School | City | Type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts | Hot Springs | Coed, 11–12 (public) | $0 for AR residents | University of Arkansas System; college credit |
| Subiaco Academy | Subiaco | Boys, 7–12 (Benedictine Catholic) | ~$25,000–$35,000 | Associated with Subiaco Abbey; monks on campus |
ASMSA: free, with college credit attached
ASMSA combines two advantages that rarely appear together: it costs Arkansas families nothing, and because it sits inside the University of Arkansas System, students take genuine university coursework and graduate with transferable credit. For an academically strong in-state student, that is a materially better financial outcome than any paid boarding option.
The same early-college model appears in Texas (TAMS) and Kentucky (Gatton Academy). All are catalogued in free boarding schools.
Subiaco Academy
Subiaco Academy is a Benedictine boys’ boarding school operated in association with Subiaco Abbey, with monks living and teaching on campus. At roughly $25,000–$35,000 it is one of the least expensive private boarding schools in the country — a function of monastic staffing and a rural Arkansas cost base rather than reduced programming.
Comparable Benedictine schools include Portsmouth Abbey in Rhode Island at roughly twice the price. Faith-based options generally are compared in Christian boarding schools. All states: best boarding schools by state.
Arkansas boarding school FAQ
What boarding schools are in Arkansas?
Arkansas has two main residential schools: the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in Hot Springs, a tuition-free public academy, and Subiaco Academy in Subiaco, a Benedictine Catholic boarding school for boys in grades 7–12.
Is the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts free?
Yes for Arkansas residents. ASMSA in Hot Springs is a state-funded residential high school within the University of Arkansas System, charging no tuition, room, or board to in-state students in grades 11–12. Admission is competitive and statewide.
How much does Subiaco Academy cost?
Subiaco Academy charges approximately $25,000–$35,000 per year for boarding students in 2025–26 — among the lowest private boarding costs in the United States. It is a Benedictine Catholic school for boys, operated in association with Subiaco Abbey.
Can ASMSA students earn college credit?
Yes. ASMSA is part of the University of Arkansas System, and students take college-level coursework as part of the program, typically graduating with substantial transferable university credit at no additional cost to Arkansas families.
Sources
- Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts: tuition-free residential admission and college credit.
- Subiaco Academy: published tuition and admission data.
- NCSSS: public residential academy directory.