Boarding schools, outside of regular day schools, are often advertised as the best place to let your child grow.
It’s where kids build their independence, find their place in a community of peers, and discover more about themselves outside the comforts of home.
They also, oftentimes, come with hefty price tags.
The Institut auf dem Rosenberg in St Gallen, Switzerland, is far from being part of the cheapest boarding schools in the world.
In fact, with an average annual tuition fee of 165,000 Swiss francs (US$180,683), it is quite the opposite.
On their website, the school says that they “only admit students who are keen to contribute to our community and are able to enrich their friends’ time at the school through their own personality and talents.”
Another prestigious school with a price tag to match is Institut Le Rosey, also located in Switzerland, where the 2025-2026 academic year requires students to pay a tuition fee of 154,200 francs (US$168,856) a year.
Here, the school emphasises academic excellence (Roseans have the option to take the International Baccalaureate Diploma or the French Baccalaureate, as well as a myriad of foreign language options) and a rigorous extracurricular programme covering sports, technology, the arts, service learning, and cultural activities.
While the prices of the schools doubtlessly match its offerings, there are more affordable options to choose from; the cheapest boarding schools in the world aren’t lagging behind with their own promises.
Many of these inexpensive boarding schools maintain high academic standards and offer a nurturing environment for students. They focus on creating an inclusive and supportive place where students can excel.
10 cheapest boarding schools in the world
1. Red Bird Christian School
Tuition fees: As low as US$12 per month
Grades: Pre-K to Grade 12
Red Bird Christian School is a private, faith-based school located in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky, US.
Part of The Red Bird Mission, the school is dedicated to academic excellence, leadership, service, and spiritual development. The school’s site says that students accepted into their programmes must demonstrate a desire to succeed in the college preparatory curriculum, seek a closer relationship with the Lord, develop Christian leadership skills, and foster a spirit of service.
2. Saint John’s Academy
Tuition fees: Starts at US$162 and goes up to US$284 per term
Grades: Pre-nursery to Class 12
Established in 1993, Saint John’s Academy in Karchhana is listed as one of the main English Medium Schools in Allahabad, India.
A co-ed school, they boast spacious buildings designed with modern, environment-friendly architecture. It is coupled with abundant greenery all around and has a vast campus to accommodate at least 2,000 students, including 200 boarders in the hostel.
Academically, Saint John’s Academy is affiliated to the Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations, New Delhi, and has at its command in-built modern infrastructure for teaching Sciences, Computer Science, Arts and Commerce.
3. Alma Mater International School
Tuition fees: From US$2,461 to US$6,122
Grades: Age one to 18 years old
Nestled in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa, Alma Mater International School is not only one of the cheapest boarding schools in the country but also in the world.
The international school is known for offering world-class Cambridge education, research mentorship, and Elite Sports programmes. Beyond that, they emphasise instilling an international mindset in students by promoting cultural understanding, fostering global perspectives, and nurturing respect for diverse viewpoints through immersive experiences, the Global Citizenship Committee, and a multicultural learning environment.
4. Colchester Royal Grammar School
Tuition fees: No tuition fee, US$7,283 per term for boarding
Grades: Age 11 to 18
As a state-funded grammar school, Colchester Royal Grammar School, there are no tuition fees, only boarding fees.
Located in Essex, UK, the school was founded in 1128 and offers both primary education and secondary education. The school caters towards young boys from age 11 to 18 and admits girls into its co-educational sixth form.
It was also recently named in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide among the UK’s top 10 grammar and selective schools for 2025.
Even the cheapest boarding schools offer a quality education that no one would scoff at. Source: AFP
5. Oakdale Christian Academy
Tuition fees: From US$5,250 to US$12,000
Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 12
Oakdale Christian Academy is a Christ-centered academic boarding school in Kentucky, US. Founded in 1921, they are the first boarding school in America accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Those specifically looking for a college preparatory education in a Christian environment where they can reach their potential will find no better place than at the school. Annually, the school enrols students from 20 states and eight countries; 15% of students are international, and 40% are non-white.
6. Dallam School
Tuition fees: No tuition fees, boarding fees is US$5,883 per term for ages 11 to 15 and US$6,535 per term for students above 16
Grades: Ages 11 to 18
Located in Cumbria, UK, Dallam School is one of the cheapest boarding schools in the world. It is a co-educational state-sponsored boarding school.
Founded in 1984, the school was formed through the merging of Heversham Grammar School and Milnthorpe Secondary School. The curriculum is designed to prepare students between the ages of 11 and 18 for college and beyond. In fact, 95% of its students received their first-choice university offer — proof of the school’s excellence in pre-university preparations.
While most might think they can’t get out much because they’re stuck in boarding school, that can’t be any more wrong. Most boarding schools offer many chances for students to get out and explore the city nearby. Source: AFP
7. Caxton College
Tuition fees: US$8,569
Grades: Early years to sixth form
Caxton College is one of the cheapest boarding schools in the world. Located in Valencia, Spain, this co-educational private school has provided affordable quality education since 1987. They have consistently been rated as one of the five best schools in the Valencian province.
The school follows the British National Curriculum, and while most of the students are Spanish, 25% of the student body comes from overseas.
The first year of enrolment fee is around US$9,397, which includes the registration fee, tuition fee, and resource fee.
8. Saint John Mary International School
Tuition fees: From US$4,344 to US$7,368
Grades: Kindergarten to Grade 12
Thailand’s Saint John Mary International School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — internationally recognised as one of six regional accrediting associations in the US.
The school follows an American curriculum, which is further adjusted to the multinational context of the school while promoting Thai culture and language. Education here emphasises ensuring students meet four key aspects: being a responsible global citizen, a high academic achiever, an emerging leader, and an effective communicator.
Attending boarding school means diving head-first into new experiences that you wouldn’t have gotten otherwise. Source: AFP
9. Sekolah Sri UCSI Kuala Lumpur
Tuition fees: From US$4,125 to US$5,355
Grades: Primary to secondary school ages
Sekolah Sri UCSI Kuala Lumpur combines the best of Malaysia’s national curriculum with the one from Cambridge. On top of that already expansive teaching, the school also offers a Finnish EdTech experience, including modules such as coding, gamification, robotics, IT, communication, creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence — all important skills students need to navigate the world ahead.
Studying — and boarding here — means being led by the school’s Character Education curriculum too. Here, learning exemplary virtues and values is what makes your child’s time at Sekolah Sri UCSI Kuala Lumpur stand out. Demonstrating innovation, self-expression and diligence while maintaining respect, empathy and honesty — that is what you can expect from your child once they attend this particular school.
10. NUCB International College
Tuition fees: US$13,667 per year
Grades: 9 to 12
Located in greater Nagoya, Japan’s third most populous city, NUCB International College (NIC) students live and study in an international community with a wealth of cultures, perspectives, and experiences.
Aside from language classes, all lessons are taught in English — so non-Japanese speakers can be rest assured that their education won’t be affected by any potential language barrier. Class sizes are relatively smaller too — the school only has three classes per grade, with a maximum of 25 students per class, allowing plenty of opportunities to interact with peers while still having the utmost attention of the teachers.
NIC also employs the Approaches to Learning Skills (ALS), a programme specifically designed to promote skill development not just in the specific academic challenges of high school but also in the challenges that lie ahead at university and in the workplace. These include self-management, social, communication, thinking, and research skills.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on February 12, 2025.
