Illinois has few private boarding schools — Lake Forest Academy and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart are the main options at $58,000–$65,000 per year — but it operates one of the country’s strongest tuition-free public residential schools, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora.
Key facts about Illinois boarding schools
- IMSA in Aurora is tuition-free for Illinois residents and among the first US public residential STEM academies.
- Private boarding tuition runs $55,000–$68,000 per year for 2025–26.
- Lake Forest Academy is the state’s main private boarding school, north of Chicago.
- Chicago itself is a day school market — the city’s elite private schools do not board.
- IMSA serves grades 10–12; students apply during 9th grade.
Which are the boarding schools in Illinois?
| School | Town | Type | Boarding cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Forest Academy | Lake Forest | Coed, 9–12 | ~$65,000 | Main private boarding option; near Chicago |
| Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart | Lake Forest | Girls, 9–12 (Catholic) | ~$58,000 | Sacred Heart network school |
| Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy | Aurora | Coed, 10–12 (public) | $0 tuition; fees for room and board | Highly competitive; IL residents only |
IMSA: the free option that outcompetes private
The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is a state-funded residential high school for grades 10–12, created in 1985 and widely copied by other states. It charges no tuition to Illinois residents, and its academic ceiling in mathematics and science exceeds what most private boarding schools offer.
For an in-state family with a strong STEM student, IMSA competes directly with $65,000-per-year private options and wins on cost outright. The trade-offs are a narrower curriculum emphasis and only three years of enrollment. Comparable programs in other states are listed in free boarding schools.
Private boarding in Illinois
Lake Forest Academy, on a former estate north of Chicago, is the state’s principal private boarding school, enrolling both boarders and day students from the North Shore. Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart nearby offers all-girls Catholic boarding within the international Sacred Heart network — see all-girls boarding schools and Christian boarding schools.
With so few in-state options, most Illinois families applying to private boarding also look east. Compare Indiana, Michigan, and Minnesota, or browse all states.
Illinois boarding school FAQ
What is the best boarding school in Illinois?
For private boarding, Lake Forest Academy north of Chicago is Illinois' leading option — coed, grades 9–12, with boarding tuition near $65,000. For academically exceptional in-state students, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora is arguably stronger and charges no tuition.
Is IMSA free?
Yes for tuition. The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora is a state-funded public residential high school for Illinois students in grades 10–12, charging no tuition. Families pay modest fees for room, board, and activities. Admission is highly competitive and limited to state residents.
How much do Illinois boarding schools cost?
Private boarding schools in Illinois charge $55,000–$68,000 per year in 2025–26. Lake Forest Academy runs approximately $65,000 and Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart approximately $58,000. IMSA, the public residential academy, charges no tuition to Illinois residents.
Are there boarding schools in Chicago?
Not in the city itself. Chicago is a day school market — schools like Latin School and Francis Parker do not board. Illinois boarding options sit in the northern suburbs (Lake Forest) and outlying cities such as Aurora, all within an hour of downtown Chicago.
Sources
- Lake Forest Academy: published tuition and admission data.
- Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: tuition-free residential admission.
- Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS): regional directory.