Phillips Academy Andover: Tuition, Financial Aid, and Accessibility

Phillips Academy Andover (Andover or PA), a co-educational, boarding-and-day, college-preparatory school in Andover, Massachusetts, has a long-standing commitment to providing education to talented students, regardless of their financial background. Founded in 1778, Andover is one of the oldest high schools in the United States. This commitment is reflected in its tuition policies, financial aid programs, and need-blind admission initiative.

Overview of Phillips Academy Andover

Phillips Academy, located in Andover, Massachusetts, enrolls approximately 1,150 students in grades 9 through 12, including postgraduate students. The academy is a private, co-educational, boarding-and-day, college-preparatory school situated in a suburb of Boston.

With a history spanning over two centuries, Andover has educated a distinguished list of notable alumni, including American presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, a Supreme Court justice (William Henry Moody), six Medal of Honor recipients, and five Nobel laureates. The academy's mission is deeply rooted in its founding principle, “Non Sibi,” which translates to “Not for Self,” underlining the school’s dedication to fostering a sense of community, responsibility, and service among its students.

The campus spans over 700 acres, offering a serene and picturesque setting that combines historical buildings with modern facilities. Phillips Academy boasts state-of-the-art facilities that cater to every aspect of student life and learning, including advanced science laboratories, a vast library, art studios, and athletic complexes.

Tuition Costs

In the twenty-first century, tuition charges at Phillips Academy have significantly increased. The cost of tuition at Phillips Academy represents a significant investment for families. As a leading boarding school, Andover strives to provide a comprehensive and enriching educational experience, reflected in its tuition fees.

Read also: Understanding Phillips Brooks

Financial Aid: Making Andover Accessible

Andover's commitment to accessibility is demonstrated through its need-blind admission policy and comprehensive financial aid program.

Need-Blind Admission

Andover admits students on a need-blind basis, meaning that a student’s ability to pay tuition does not influence their admission decision. This policy ensures that all qualified applicants have the opportunity to attend Andover, regardless of their financial circumstances. The need-blind admission initiative is the single most distinctive feature that Phillips Academy is recognized for around the world.

The academy encourages all qualified applicants to consider Andover, regardless of whether they can afford the full cost of attendance.

Meeting Demonstrated Financial Need

Phillips Academy provides financial aid covering 100% of students' demonstrated financial need. The school meets that need with grants (essentially scholarships), not loans. Andover is one of the few independent schools to meet 100 percent of each student’s demonstrated financial need. All financial aid scholarships are awarded through the generosity of alumni, parents, and friends of the Academy and are guaranteed through endowed scholarship funds.

Andover determines a family's ability to pay using its own standards. This process produces fair and generous individual results. For example, the school does not include the value of a family's home up to $650,000 when considering their assets and provides a generous rental allowance for families who do not own a home.

Applying for Financial Aid

Families apply for financial aid at the same time students submit applications for admission. Andover uses the Clarity Tuition application to securely collect financial aid applications and supporting tax documents.

To adhere to best practices and allow for a comprehensive review of all submissions for financial aid, Andover requires applicants to submit financial information from all living parents. Divorced or separated families should each complete a separate financial aid application. No information will be shared between parties. Single parents need to provide proof of single-parent status.

The financial aid application deadline is February 1, coinciding with the admission application deadline. Andover communicates decisions about financial aid awards on March 10.

There is no disadvantage to applying for financial aid at Andover. The admission officers do not have access to applicants' financial information, and financial aid status is not considered in the admission process.

Financial Aid Application Instructions

To get started with the financial aid application, families should go to the Financial Aid Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is mobile-friendly. Applicants can save their progress and return to it at any time.

Read also: A Look at Howard Phillips Hall

Financial Aid for All Socioeconomic Backgrounds

Andover attracts the largest and most diverse applicant pool among peer schools. Given the strong representation of all socioeconomic groups within that pool, the Academy sets no prescribed ceiling on family income when offering full scholarships.

The Admission Process

Gaining admission to Phillips Academy Andover is a competitive process. The acceptance rate hovers around 13%, which means that out of every 100 applicants, only about 13 are admitted.

What Andover Looks For

Andover seeks students who demonstrate not only intelligence but also a genuine love for learning. The school values well-rounded students who contribute to their communities.

Key aspects of the admissions criteria include:

Strong Academic Record: Andover expects applicants to have a solid academic background, with strong grades in challenging courses.
Standardized Test Scores: Applicants are required to submit scores from standardized tests like the SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) or the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam).
Teacher Recommendations: Recommendations from current teachers should speak to applicants' academic abilities, character, and contributions to the classroom environment.
Diverse Interests: Engaging in extracurricular activities that genuinely interest applicants is a plus.
Leadership and Initiative: Taking on leadership roles in clubs or organizations is valued.
Personal Essay: The application essay is a chance to show who applicants are beyond grades and test scores.
Interview: The interview is an opportunity for the school to get to know applicants and for applicants to ask questions about Andover.

Application Steps

Applying to Phillips Academy Andover requires careful planning, self-reflection, and attention to detail.

Key steps in the application process include:

Start Early: Begin by researching Andover’s programs, culture, and values.
Transcripts: Request your current school to provide your transcripts.
Standardized Test Scores: Schedule and take the SSAT or ISEE.
Recommendation Letters: Identify teachers, counselors, or mentors who can provide recommendations.
Application Fee: Pay the application fee, if required. The application fee is $60 ($125 for international students). Late registration charges for standardized tests are not covered by the fee waiver.
Scheduling the Interview: If Andover requires or recommends an interview, schedule it as soon as possible.
Submission: Submit your application before the deadline.

The application deadline for regular admission typically falls in early February. For 2023-2024 admissions, the deadline was February 1, 2023. Admissions decisions are generally released in mid-March.

Campus Life and Extracurricular Activities

School life at Andover goes beyond textbooks and classrooms. The school boasts a vibrant community with a myriad of extracurricular activities. Participation in an afternoon activity is mandatory for every student.

Andover offers a wide range of sports, from soccer and basketball to more unique options like squash and crew. For those interested in arts, Andover’s art program is top-notch. The school encourages creative expression through various forms like painting, music, drama, and dance.

Phillips Academy Andover offers a wide range of clubs and organizations, including:

ActiveMinds Andover
Activism
Afro-Latino-American Society (Af-Lat-Am) and Mentoring (DREAM)
Andover Ambassadors
Andover Japanese Connection
App Development
ARC Buddies
Archaeology and History Club
Babel Foreign Language Magazine
Backtracks Magazine
Baking Club
Bancroft Elementary Teachers Aides
Big Idea Club
Birding Club
Blue Key Society
Boss Magazine
Bread & Roses community kitchen volunteers
Bread Loaf Pen Pel Program
Bread Loaf Writing Workshop
Calliope (female a capella)
Campuses against Cancer
Catholic Student Fellowship
Chess Club
Chinese Language & Culture Club
Clutch Collaborative
Community Awareness For Everyone (CAFE)
Courant Art & Literary Magazine
Culinary Appreciation Club
Culture Politics & Religion (CPR)
Cyber Security and Forensics Club
Dear Sam Wellness Club
Deerfield Dance Club
Deerfield Scroll -- Student Newspaper
Disability Rights
Diversity Task Force
Documentary Society
Drug Alcohol Awareness Committee
EAT Club
Eco-Action
Education
Environmental Action Group
Fashion Design Club
Figure Skating Club
Film Makers Society
Frontline Political Magazine
Games Club
Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
German Club
Girls Global Health
GirlUp Andover!
Global Health Initiative
Global Nomads
Grill Club
Hindu Student Union
International Review online publication
Japanese Animeshon Club
Modern Engineering Forum
Motorsports Club
Moviemakers Club
Muslim Student Union
Non sibi Society
Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Friends of the Orphans)
Out of the Blue
Over the Hills and Farther Away
OXFAM
PA Democrats
PA Liberal Action
PA Republican Society
Philomathean
Philosophy
Pot Pourri Yearbook
Project V.O.I.C.E.

Notable Alumni

Attending Andover also means becoming part of an impressive network of alumni. This network includes leaders, innovators, and changemakers across different fields. Graduates of Andover have gone on to achieve remarkable success in various domains, from politics and business to science and the arts, including American presidents (George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush), a Supreme Court justice (William Henry Moody), six Medal of Honor recipients, and five Nobel laureates.

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