How to Get Into The Hill School: Acceptance Rate, Fall 2027 Deadlines, Tuition and College Matriculation
By Rona Aydin
What is The Hill School acceptance rate?
The Hill School does not publish an acceptance rate, an applicant count or the number of students it admits. None appears on its admission, application, tuition or financial aid pages, on Hill By the Numbers or in its School Profile 2026-2027, so rates that circulate online are outside estimates rather than Hill figures (Hill By the Numbers; The Hill School Profile 2026-2027). What Hill does publish is the size and makeup of the school:
| Measure | The Hill School | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Students | 539 | Hill By the Numbers; School Profile 2026-2027 |
| States and countries represented | 31 states, 27 countries | Hill By the Numbers; School Profile 2026-2027 |
| Boarding-to-day ratio | 77:23 | Hill By the Numbers |
| Students of color / international students | 42% / 16% | Hill By the Numbers |
| Students receiving need-based financial aid | 39% | Hill By the Numbers; Tuition and Financial Aid |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 7:1 | Hill By the Numbers; School Profile 2026-2027 |
| Class size | Typical class size 10; average class size 11 | Hill By the Numbers; School Profile 2026-2027 |
| AP, Honors and College Level courses | 92 | Hill By the Numbers |
| Interscholastic sports programs | 34 | Hill By the Numbers |
| Acceptance rate | Not published | Hill admission pages |
The Rev. Matthew Meigs founded the school in 1851 as The Family Boarding School, and Hill is marking its 175th anniversary in 2026-27 (Hill 175th Anniversary; About Hill). It is a coeducational boarding and day school for Grades 9 to 12 and a postgraduate year at 860 Beech Street in Pottstown, about one hour from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City and Baltimore (Hill Our Campus). Its motto is “Whatsoever things are true.” Hill is one of the ten founding members of the Ten Schools Admission Organization, founded in 1952 (Ten Schools Admission Organization); our guide to the Ten Schools compares the members.
When are The Hill School deadlines for fall 2027?
For the 2027-28 school year, Hill lists January 15, 2027 for financial aid applications, January 31, 2027 to complete the admission application, March 10, 2027 for decisions and April 10, 2027 for enrollment contracts (Hill How to Apply). Financial aid determinations are shared on March 10 in the same online portal as the admission decision (Hill Tuition and Financial Aid).
| Milestone | Date | Status on November 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity financial aid application opens | September 1, 2026 | Open |
| Admission interviews; testing requirements fulfilled | September 16, 2026 to January 31, 2027 | Open |
| Financial aid application and tax documents due (Clarity) | January 15, 2027 | Upcoming |
| Deadline to complete the admission application | January 31, 2027 | Upcoming |
| Admission decisions and financial aid determinations released | March 10, 2027 | Upcoming |
| Enrollment contracts due (reply to reserve a place for 2027-28) | April 10, 2027 | Upcoming |
| Later applications | Considered as space permits, on a rolling basis | After the deadline |
Hill is the only school in our comparison table below whose admission deadline falls after January 15; the others list January 15. In our experience, families who need aid should treat January 15, 2027 as the working deadline at Hill too, because the Clarity application and the 2025 tax documents are due then, about two weeks before the admission file.
What does The Hill School application require?
Hill accepts either the Gateway to Prep Schools application or the Standard Application Online (SAO); applicants then receive a link to a Hill online account to track the file and receive the decision (Hill How to Apply). The file includes:
- An application through Gateway or the SAO.
- English, mathematics and counselor (or principal) recommendations, which Hill prefers to come from current-year teachers.
- Required test scores, emailed to the Admission Office.
- An admission interview, available from September 16, 2026 to January 31, 2027.
| Applicant | Hill testing rule for fall 2027 |
|---|---|
| Grades 9 and 10 (Third and Fourth Form) | SSAT, ISEE or PSAT required |
| Grades 11 and 12 (Fifth and Sixth Form) and postgraduate | PSAT, SAT, ACT or SSAT required |
| International students whose first language is not English | TOEFL and/or Duolingo in addition to the SSAT, unless the student has attended an American or international school for the last three years |
Hill offers three interview formats (Hill Schedule Your Interview). An on-campus visit pairs a student-led tour with an interview with an admission officer, and a limited number of Saturday appointments are reserved for families who live 100 miles or more from Pottstown. From September through November, admission officers also interview at select locations around the country and the world. Virtual interviews are reserved for students who live 100 miles or more from Pottstown and cannot visit, and Hill says missed virtual appointments cannot be rescheduled. Our guides to private school interview questions and the ISEE help with two of these steps.
What does The Hill School cost in 2026-27, and how does financial aid work?
Boarding tuition for 2026-27 is $81,040 and day tuition is $54,980, a difference of $26,060 by our calculation (Hill Tuition and Financial Aid). Boarding tuition includes room and board, health services and some athletics equipment, and day tuition includes lunch every day except Sunday.
| 2026-27 | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Boarding tuition | $81,040 | All instruction, room and board, on-campus events, health services at the Wellness Center and some athletics equipment |
| Day tuition | $54,980 | All instruction and on-campus events, plus lunch every day except Sunday |
| Textbooks and supplies | Extra | Paid by families; aided students receive support for laptops |
| Some electives, athletics, music instruction and other programs | May carry fees | Contact the Admission Office for details |
Financial aid at Hill is need-based and awarded as grants with no expectation of repayment (Hill Financial Aid FAQs). Families apply through Clarity by January 15, 2027, and a family with several children applying submits one aid application. Hill says its committee first determines demonstrated need from the Clarity application, but must also account for enrollment goals set by the Board of Trustees, the number of aid applications and the resources allocated to aid, and that not every family that applies receives an award. The pages we read do not state a policy of meeting full demonstrated need.
| Financial aid figure | The Hill School |
|---|---|
| Students receiving need-based financial aid | 39% |
| Need-based grants awarded annually | $10.1 million |
| Average boarding student award | $55,200 |
| Average day student award | $33,550 |
| Merit, academic or athletic scholarships | None |
| Aid for international students | Typically not awarded |
By our calculation, the average boarding award of $55,200 equals 68.1% of 2026-27 boarding tuition, and the average day award of $33,550 equals 61% of day tuition. Hill says it is committed to supporting aided families for their entire time at the school, but reviews need every year, and that awards and the family share both tend to rise as tuition rises. International applicants may apply, but Hill says it typically does not award aid to international students because its process relies on U.S. tax documents (Hill Financial Aid FAQs).
Where do Hill School graduates go to college?
For the Class of 2026, Hill reports that 25.4% of graduates enrolled at a most selective college, with an acceptance rate of 10% or lower, and 20% at a highly selective college, with a rate of 11 to 25% (Hill College Counseling). Eight students were admitted to a highly selective college and chose to enroll elsewhere.
| Class of 2026 outcome | Share of graduates |
|---|---|
| Most selective colleges (acceptance rate of 10% or lower) | 25.4% |
| Highly selective colleges (acceptance rate of 11 to 25%) | 20% |
| Both groups combined, by our calculation | 45.4% |
Hill publishes college names in count groups rather than exact counts. Since 2022, Hill graduates have enrolled at 223 different colleges, and Hill says half of its graduates attend institutions with acceptance rates below 25% (Hill College Matriculation Insights). The School Profile 2026-2027 points to this list as the college matriculations for 2022 to 2026.
| Hill graduates enrolled since 2022 | Selected colleges |
|---|---|
| 8 or more Hill graduates since 2022 | Cornell University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, Tufts University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, United States Naval Academy |
| 3 to 7 Hill graduates since 2022 | Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Harvard College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Yale University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, University of Virginia, Williams College |
| Other colleges with Hill graduates since 2022 | Brown University, Stanford University, University of Chicago, Rice University, Vanderbilt University, Swarthmore College, among many others |
Students are formally assigned to a college counselor in January of the Fourth Form (Grade 10) year, and the program intensifies in the Fifth Form (Grade 11) (Hill College Counseling). More than 100 college representatives visit each fall, and the profile states that the College Counseling Office limits students to 12 college applications. The profile says that, with the exception of mathematics, computer science, English and world languages, Hill students take Advanced Placement and College Level classes in their Fifth and Sixth Form years, and it lists signature programs including Classics, Engineering and Computer Science, the Quadrivium Scholars research course and Eudemonia, a required well-being course (School Profile 2026-2027). See our Ivy League acceptance rates analysis and our guides to Cornell and Georgetown, two of the colleges in the 8 or more group.
How does The Hill School compare with other Ten Schools members?
Among seven Ten Schools members whose 2026-27 tuition pages we read, Hill has the latest application deadline and one of the higher boarding figures:
| School | 2026-27 boarding figure | What the figure covers | Application deadline for fall 2027 | Standardized testing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lawrenceville School | $82,710 | Comprehensive tuition, inclusive of most fees | January 15 | Required |
| The Taft School | $81,400 | Tuition including room and board; no additional fees | January 15 | Required |
| The Hill School | $81,040 | Tuition including room and board; textbooks extra | January 31, 2027 | Required |
| The Hotchkiss School | $80,800 | Tuition of $79,350 plus technology and health services fees | January 15, 2027 | Required |
| The Loomis Chaffee School | $77,340 | Tuition before technology and health center fees | January 15, 2027 | Optional, except English proficiency for some applicants |
| St. Paul’s School | $75,400 | Tuition, room and board, plus $1,480 in mandatory fees | January 15 | Required |
| Choate Rosemary Hall | $74,530 | Tuition of $73,530 plus a $1,000 technology fee | January 15 (full consideration) | Optional |
Two features stand out. Day students are required to board for at least one year (Hill Character in Practice), and the profile states that all students must reside on campus for one year. Hill also lists Hill vs. L’ville Weekend, its rivalry weekend with Lawrenceville, among the traditions that shape its culture, alongside seated meals and Chapel (About Hill). Families often ask whether a more selective boarding school helps a student in college admissions. The view of Oriel Admissions is that a student needs to stand out within their own high school as well as in the national pool, and that it is better to be a top student at a smaller school than an average student at a more competitive one, for the opportunities that open up to top students as well as for grades. Our reach, match and safety guide applies the same thinking to a school list.
How should families plan a Hill School application now?
In our view, a family applying for fall 2027 should book the on-campus visit and interview early, since Saturday slots are limited and virtual interviews are reserved for families 100 miles or more away; plan an SSAT or ISEE date that reports before January 31, 2027 (Grade 9 and 10 applicants may also submit the PSAT); and ask the current English and mathematics teachers and the counselor for recommendations before winter break. A family that needs aid should file Clarity by January 15, 2027. A family weighing day enrollment should plan for the one-year boarding requirement. For younger students, Hill School Summer Scholars is a two-week boarding program for rising 7th and 8th graders, with applications for summer 2027 opening in November 2026 (Hill Admission); our guide to summer programs for middle school students compares options.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Hill School Admissions
The Hill School does not publish an acceptance rate or applicant count. It does publish its size: 539 students from 31 states and 27 countries, with a boarding-to-day ratio of 77:23.
The admission application is due January 31, 2027, and the financial aid application January 15, 2027. Decisions are released March 10, 2027, and enrollment contracts are due April 10, 2027.
Testing is required, but the SSAT is not the only option. Grade 9 and 10 applicants submit the SSAT, ISEE or PSAT, and Grade 11, Grade 12 and postgraduate applicants submit the PSAT, SAT, ACT or SSAT.
Only students who live 100 miles or more from Pottstown and cannot visit campus may interview virtually. Other applicants interview on campus with a tour, or at off-campus interviews held from September through November.
Boarding tuition is $81,040, including room and board, and day tuition is $54,980, including lunch every day except Sunday. Textbooks and supplies are extra.
No. All aid is need-based and awarded as grants. Hill reports that 39% of students receive need-based aid, with $10.1 million awarded annually and an average boarding award of $55,200.
Yes. Hill requires day students to board for at least one year, and its School Profile 2026-2027 states that all students must reside on campus for one year.
For the Class of 2026, 25.4% enrolled at colleges with acceptance rates of 10% or lower and 20% at colleges with rates of 11 to 25%. Oriel Admissions notes that Hill lists Cornell, Georgetown and Penn among colleges with 8 or more graduates since 2022.
Sources: Hill How to Apply, Hill Tuition and Financial Aid, Hill Financial Aid FAQs, Hill Schedule Your Interview, Hill By the Numbers, The Hill School Profile 2026-2027, Hill College Counseling, Hill College Matriculation Insights, Hill Admission, About Hill, Hill Our Campus, Hill Character in Practice, Hill 175th Anniversary, Ten Schools Admission Organization, Lawrenceville Tuition, Taft Tuition, Hotchkiss Tuition, Loomis Chaffee Tuition, St. Paul’s Tuition and Financial Aid, Choate Tuition and Financial Aid. All read November 5, 2026.
About Oriel Admissions
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