The 50 most expensive boarding schools in America

There are at least 50 universities in the US that charge over $60,000 a year to attend — a serious investment for any degree. And yet, some families begin investing in their children's education even earlier than college.

For the fifth year in a row, we've rounded up the 50 most expensive boarding schools in the US. For the first time, five schools on our list exceed $60,000 in annual cost. Nearly a dozen others are skirting that number.

But what do these increasingly expensive price tags afford students? A number of impressive perks, from iPads for every student to state-of-the-art athletic and academic facilities and, sometimes, tickets into the Ivies.

To create this list, we looked at tuition, room and board, and noted mandatory fees, including one-time fees where applicable, to calculate the total cost for the 2015-16 school year. In instances where the school listed a variety of expected expenditures for books and other required materials, we used the average. (Special-needs schools and daytime-only schools were not taken into consideration for this list.)

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50. Choate Rosemary Hall

Location: Wallingford, Connecticut

Total cost: $55,621

Enrollment: 850

Choate celebrated its 125th anniversary this year with the dedication of a new mathematics and computer-science building that's LEED-Gold certified. The building is home to the i.d. Lab — a facility equipped with technology and tools to help students foster creative thinking and innovation.

49. Gould Academy

Location: Bethel, Maine

Total cost: $55,700

Enrollment: 240

The school's website says that northern winters are a cherished tradition. Gould Academy makes use of its close proximity to New England's premier ski resorts and mountains by offering students a number of competitive and non-competitive winter sports including alpine skiing and snowboarding. 

48. Villanova Preparatory School

Location: Ojai, California

Total cost: $55,800

Enrollment: 260

The Catholic institution's culture and curriculum is based on the biblical teachings of Saint Augustine: community, truth, and love. It's part of a network of Augustinian schools and universities in 38 countries.

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