Phillips Andover Tuition: A Complete Guide to Costs and Financial Aid

For families aspiring to provide their children with an unparalleled secondary education, Phillips Academy Andover is consistently at the top of the list. Its legacy of academic distinction, its diverse and dynamic community, and its commitment to producing thoughtful, engaged global citizens are legendary. Naturally, this prestige is often accompanied by a significant question for prospective parents: "What is the true cost of an Andover education?"

The answer, reassuringly, is far more nuanced than the published tuition figures suggest. Andover is built upon a foundational principle of "youth from every quarter," and its robust financial aid program is a testament to that creed. This guide provides an expert breakdown of the Phillips Andover tuition, demystifies its need-blind admissions policy, and illustrates how this world-class opportunity is made accessible to deserving students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

The Published Costs: A Full Breakdown of Phillips Andover Tuition and Fees

Understanding the complete financial picture is the essential first step for any family. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the comprehensive tuition and fees at Phillips Andover are:

• Boarding Student: $76,731

• Day Student: $59,478

This figure covers tuition, room and board for boarding students, and meals. To ensure complete and transparent planning, families should also budget for additional required fees and anticipated expenses:

• Technology Fee: Approximately $800

• Books and Supplies: $1,000 - $1,500

• Health Insurance: Required for all students; costs vary based on a family's existing coverage.

• Travel and Personal Expenses: Varies based on the student's home location and personal spending habits.

While this initial total represents a significant investment, it is not the final number for a large portion of Andover’s families.

Andover’s Bedrock Principle: Admission is Need-Blind

The most critical piece of information for any prospective family to understand is this: Phillips Andover has a need-blind admission policy.

This means that the admissions committee reviews and evaluates every application without any knowledge of a family's financial situation. A student's ability to pay the full tuition has absolutely no bearing on their chances of being accepted. Admission to Andover is based solely on merit, character, and a student's potential to contribute to the school community.

Furthermore, once a student is admitted, Andover makes a powerful commitment: it will meet 100% of their family’s demonstrated financial need. This is made possible by a substantial endowment and a deep institutional belief in equity and access.

Consider the depth of this commitment:

• Andover dedicates over $26 million annually to its financial aid budget.

• Approximately 47% of students receive financial aid grants.

• The average financial aid grant for the previous academic year was over $45,000.

• All aid is awarded as an outright grant, which does not need to be repaid.

How Andover Calculates Your Family's Contribution

To ensure a fair and equitable process, Andover uses the Clarity platform to handle financial aid applications. This secure, third-party service allows families to provide a comprehensive picture of their financial circumstances.

The Andover Financial Aid Committee then conducts a confidential and holistic review of each application. They look beyond simple income figures to understand a family's complete financial profile, considering factors such as:

• Total income from all sources

• Family assets (savings, investments, home equity)

• Family size and the number of dependents

• Number of children in tuition-charging institutions

• Unusual medical expenses or other extenuating circumstances

This thorough process allows the committee to determine what a family can reasonably be expected to contribute, with the financial aid grant covering the remaining amount.

Real-World Scenarios: Who Qualifies for Aid?

Many families incorrectly assume that they will not qualify for financial aid at a school like Andover. However, the program is designed to support families from a broad range of economic situations.

Andover has a particularly clear and generous policy for lower and middle-income families:

Families with a total annual income of less than $150,000 will generally attend Andover for free.

This remarkable policy underscores the school's commitment to access. For families with higher incomes, significant aid is still readily available. Consider this hypothetical scenario:

• Scenario: The Upper-Middle-Income Family

  • Income: $225,000

  • Assets: Moderate savings and home equity.

  • Other Factors: One other child attending college.

  • Potential Outcome: This family could still qualify for a substantial financial aid grant, potentially in the range of $25,000 to $35,000, to make an Andover education affordable.

These examples illustrate that families should not rule themselves out based on income alone.

Conclusion: An Investment in Opportunity

The published Phillips Andover tuition should be viewed as the starting point of a conversation, not a barrier to entry. The school’s unwavering commitment to need-blind admission and its extensive financial aid resources are designed to attract and enroll the most promising students, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Your next step should be to visit the official Phillips Andover website and use their Net Price Calculator. This tool offers a personalized and confidential estimate of the financial aid your family might expect to receive.

Navigating the financial aid landscape of elite schools is a critical part of a successful admissions strategy. At EduAvenues, our experts provide personalized guidance to help families understand their options and confidently pursue these life-changing educational opportunities.