Michigan has two nationally significant boarding schools: Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills, on a National Historic Landmark campus, and Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City, the leading pre-professional arts boarding school in the United States. Boarding tuition runs $55,000–$75,000 per year in 2026.
Key facts about Michigan boarding schools
- Interlochen Arts Academy is the best-known arts boarding school in the US, admitting by audition or portfolio.
- Cranbrook’s campus, designed by Eliel Saarinen, is a National Historic Landmark.
- Boarding tuition runs $55,000–$75,000 per year for 2025–26.
- Interlochen tuition varies by arts major, since disciplines differ in individual instruction needs.
- Cranbrook enrolls mostly day students — ask about weekend boarding populations.
Which are the boarding schools in Michigan?
| School | Town | Type | Boarding tuition | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranbrook Schools | Bloomfield Hills | Coed, 9–12 (day majority) | ~$60,000 | Saarinen campus; strong academics and art |
| Interlochen Arts Academy | Traverse City | Coed, 9–12, PG | ~$65,000–$75,000 | Pre-professional arts conservatory |
| Andrews Academy | Berrien Springs | Coed (Adventist) | ~$25,000 | Low-cost faith-based boarding |
Interlochen: the arts boarding option
Interlochen Arts Academy is to the arts what Shattuck-St. Mary’s is to hockey: a school where the discipline, not the general curriculum, is the reason to attend. Students major in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, visual arts, film, or interdisciplinary arts, training at conservatory intensity while completing college-preparatory academics.
Admission is by audition or portfolio rather than primarily by grades and SSAT, so the application process differs from standard boarding admissions described in how to apply to boarding school. Tuition varies by major because instruction models differ — get a written all-in figure for your child’s discipline, as advised in how much boarding school costs.
Cranbrook and the day-majority question
Cranbrook offers strong academics on an extraordinary campus, but its boarding population sits inside a majority-day school serving metropolitan Detroit. That is not a flaw — it is a structural fact that affects weekends. Ask the admission office what share of boarders stay on campus a typical weekend and what programming runs for them.
The trade-offs between day-majority and fully residential schools are covered in boarding school vs day school. Compare Midwest alternatives in Indiana and Minnesota, or browse all states.
Michigan boarding school FAQ
What is the best boarding school in Michigan?
Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills is Michigan's leading academic boarding school, on a National Historic Landmark campus designed by Eliel Saarinen, with boarding tuition near $60,000. Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City is the state's other nationally significant option and the top US arts boarding school.
What is Interlochen Arts Academy?
Interlochen Arts Academy in Traverse City is a pre-professional arts boarding school for grades 9–12 offering conservatory-level training in music, theatre, dance, creative writing, visual arts, and film alongside academics. Tuition runs $65,000–$75,000 depending on the arts major. Admission requires an audition or portfolio.
How much do Michigan boarding schools cost?
Michigan boarding schools charge $55,000–$75,000 per year in 2025–26. Cranbrook runs approximately $60,000 for boarding students, while Interlochen ranges $65,000–$75,000 depending on the arts discipline, since some majors require more individual instruction.
Does Cranbrook accept boarding students?
Yes. Cranbrook Schools enrolls a majority of day students from metropolitan Detroit alongside a boarding population in the upper school. Because day students dominate, prospective boarders should ask specifically about weekend residential programming and how many boarders remain on campus.
Sources
- Cranbrook Schools and Interlochen Arts Academy: published tuition and admission data.
- TABS: Michigan member listings.