Iowa has two small, distinctive boarding schools rather than conventional prep schools: Scattergood Friends School in West Branch, a Quaker school with a working farm, and Maharishi School in Fairfield, which builds Transcendental Meditation into the school day. Both charge roughly $35,000–$45,000 per year in 2026.
Key facts about Iowa boarding schools
- Iowa has two boarding schools, both small and philosophically distinctive.
- Boarding tuition runs roughly $35,000–$45,000 per year — well below the national average.
- Scattergood Friends School, founded 1890, operates a working farm students help run.
- Maharishi School incorporates Transcendental Meditation into its daily schedule.
- Neither is a conventional competitive college-preparatory boarding school.
Which are the boarding schools in Iowa?
| School | City | Type | Boarding tuition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scattergood Friends School | West Branch | Coed, 9–12 (Quaker) | ~$35,000–$42,000 | Working farm; consensus governance; very small |
| Maharishi School | Fairfield | Coed, PreK–12 | ~$40,000–$45,000 | Consciousness-Based Education; TM practice |
What to understand before applying
Neither Iowa school is a conventional prep school, and that is the central fact for families evaluating them. Scattergood is a very small Quaker community where students share responsibility for the farm and kitchen, governed by consensus and Quaker testimony. Maharishi School organizes its day around Transcendental Meditation practice as an explicit pedagogical method.
Both can be excellent fits for the right student and poor fits for others. If your child needs a large peer group, deep athletic programs, or a conventional competitive transcript, look elsewhere. If a small intentional community is the appeal, the closest philosophical peers nationally are The Putney School in Vermont and Pennsylvania’s Quaker schools.
Regional alternatives
For conventional college-preparatory boarding, Iowa families typically apply to Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Missouri.
Fit questions are worked through in is boarding school right for my child. All states: best boarding schools by state.
Iowa boarding school FAQ
What boarding schools are in Iowa?
Iowa has two small boarding schools: Scattergood Friends School in West Branch, a Quaker school with a working farm, and Maharishi School in Fairfield, which incorporates Transcendental Meditation into its daily schedule. Both are small and distinctive rather than conventional prep schools.
How much do Iowa boarding schools cost?
Iowa boarding schools charge roughly $35,000–$45,000 per year in 2025–26 — well below the national private boarding average. Both Scattergood and Maharishi School are small institutions with correspondingly modest fee structures and need-based aid.
What is Scattergood Friends School?
Scattergood Friends School in West Branch is a Quaker boarding school founded in 1890, enrolling a very small student body. Students participate in running a working farm and kitchen alongside academics, and the school operates on Quaker principles of consensus and simplicity.
What is Maharishi School known for?
Maharishi School in Fairfield is known for incorporating Transcendental Meditation into the daily academic schedule as part of what it calls Consciousness-Based Education. It is a small coed school serving both day and boarding students.
Sources
- Scattergood Friends School and Maharishi School: published tuition and program data.
- ISACS: Midwest independent school directory.