Pennsylvania’s leading boarding schools are The Hill School, Mercersburg Academy, George School, and Westtown School, charging $55,000–$72,000 per year in 2026. The state is also home to Milton Hershey School — the largest tuition-free boarding school in the US — and the country’s densest cluster of Quaker boarding schools.
Key facts about Pennsylvania boarding schools
- Boarding tuition runs $55,000–$72,000 per year for 2025–26 — below New England equivalents.
- Milton Hershey School charges $0 and serves roughly 2,000 students from lower-income families.
- Pennsylvania has the largest concentration of Quaker boarding schools in the US.
- George School is one of few US boarding schools offering the full IB Diploma.
- Most campuses sit within two hours of Philadelphia, and several within three of Washington, DC.
Which are the top boarding schools in Pennsylvania?
| School | Town | Type | Boarding tuition | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Hill School | Pottstown | Coed, 9–12, PG | ~$71,000 | ~35% |
| Mercersburg Academy | Mercersburg | Coed, 9–12, PG | ~$70,000 | ~35% |
| George School | Newtown | Coed, 9–12 (Quaker, IB) | ~$70,000 | ~50% |
| Westtown School | West Chester | Coed, 9–12 (Quaker) | ~$68,000 | ~55% |
| The Perkiomen School | Pennsburg | Coed, 6–12, PG | ~$65,000 | ~70% |
| Wyoming Seminary | Kingston | Coed, 9–12, PG | ~$62,000 | ~70% |
| Valley Forge Military Academy | Wayne | Coed, 7–12, PG | ~$55,000 | ~80% |
| Church Farm School | Exton | Boys, 9–12 | Sliding scale, need-based | Selective by need |
| Milton Hershey School | Hershey | Coed, K–12 | $0 — fully funded | Need-based admission |
The Milton Hershey exception
Milton Hershey School is unlike anything else in American boarding education: funded by the Hershey Trust, it charges nothing for tuition, housing, meals, or health care, and admits based on financial need rather than academic merit. Students from families near or below the poverty line receive priority, and the school serves grades K–12 on a single campus.
Church Farm School in Exton operates on a related model, charging a sliding scale tied to family income for boys in grades 9–12. Both are covered in free boarding schools.
Pennsylvania’s Quaker boarding schools
George School and Westtown School are the country’s two best-known Quaker boarding schools, both in the Philadelphia suburbs. They admit students of all faiths, hold weekly Meeting for Worship, and organize governance around consensus rather than hierarchy — a genuinely different residential culture from the competitive New England model.
George School additionally offers the full IB Diploma, rare among US boarding schools and useful for families targeting universities outside the US. See international boarding schools for how IB compares to AP and A-Levels, and Christian boarding schools for other faith-based options.
Compare neighboring markets in New Jersey and Maryland, or browse all states in best boarding schools by state.
Pennsylvania boarding school FAQ
What is the best boarding school in Pennsylvania?
The Hill School in Pottstown and Mercersburg Academy are Pennsylvania's leading boarding schools, both admitting roughly 30–40% of applicants with boarding tuition near $70,000. George School in Newtown is the strongest Quaker option and one of the few US boarding schools offering the full IB Diploma.
Is there a free boarding school in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Milton Hershey School in Hershey charges no tuition, room, or board to any admitted student, funded by the Hershey Trust. It serves roughly 2,000 students from lower-income families in grades K–12 and is the largest tuition-free boarding school in the United States.
How much do Pennsylvania boarding schools cost?
Pennsylvania boarding schools charge $55,000–$72,000 per year for boarding in 2025–26. The Hill School and Mercersburg Academy run near $70,000, while Quaker and smaller regional schools charge $55,000–$65,000. Milton Hershey School is free to admitted students.
Are there Quaker boarding schools in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania has the largest concentration of Quaker boarding schools in the US, including George School in Newtown and Westtown School in West Chester. Both admit students of all faiths, hold weekly Meeting for Worship, and emphasize consensus decision-making and service.
Sources
- The Hill School, Mercersburg Academy, George School: published tuition and admission data.
- Milton Hershey School: no-cost model and eligibility criteria.
- Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS): state school directory.