High School

Institutional Might, Historic Endowments, and Global Scale - Phillips Academy Andover Secures #2 in Boston Private High School Elite College Placement Index

Q: Why does Phillips Academy Andover rank #2 in the Boston ECPI?

Andover achieves its #2 ranking through high volume and sustained density. Our 3-year analysis indicates a 32% Ivy+ matriculation yield, generating 303 placements into Ivy+ institutions from a cohort of 981 students.

Q: How many students does Andover send to the Ivy League?

Between 2023 and 2025, Andover generated approximately 181 strictly Ivy League matriculations. Harvard and Columbia represent the largest Ivy pipelines, with over 30 enrollments each during this period.

Q: Is Andover truly need-blind?

Yes. Andover adopted a strict need-blind admission policy in 2007. The Academy meets 100 percent of demonstrated need with grants, not loans. Currently, 47% of the student body receives financial aid.

Q: How does Andover compare to Groton School?

While Groton (#1) operates on a smaller scale (385 students) resulting in a slightly higher percentage yield (37%), Andover (#2) generates a significantly larger absolute volume of Top 25 acceptances due to its large 1,170-student enrollment. Andover achieves 10.0 Readiness scores.

Q: What are the median standardized test scores at Andover?

For the Class of 2026 tracking window, the average SAT score was a 1410 (ERW: 699, Math: 711), and the average ACT score was a 31. Furthermore, 87% of students taking AP exams scored a 4 or 5.

Q: Does Andover rank its students?

No. Andover does not rank its students. It utilizes a 0 to 6.0 grading scale and relies on intense curricular rigor (offering 600-level undergraduate-equivalent courses) to demonstrate academic excellence to colleges rather than pitting students against one another.

By Data Team | Published October 9, 2026

Our latest analysis of Phillips Academy Andover’s matriculation data from 2023-2025 indicates a 31% Ivy+ yield across a 981-student cohort. This level of Ivy+ yield along with over 50% Top 25 placements secures Andover the #2 overall position in Boston Private High School Elite College Placement Index.

For families evaluating the global boarding school landscape, these findings demonstrate that Andover operates on a collegiate scale. Backed by a $1.47 billion endowment and a commitment to 100% need-blind admissions, Andover provides significant structural resources and pathways to highly selective universities.

Summary of Findings

•
High Absolute Volume: Unlike smaller independent peers, Andover scales excellence. Over a three-year period, we found 303 matriculations to the Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Duke, and UChicago—a volume exceeding the entire graduating classes of many competitive day schools.
•
High-Prestige Placement (#2 Boston Private): Andover performs consistently across high-prestige vectors. Driven by strong pipelines to UChicago (~43), Harvard (~34), and Columbia (~34), the school achieves over 50% combined Top 25 National placement yield based on 3-year model.
•
Structural Readiness: Supported by the highest endowment of any US private secondary school ($1.47B) and a strict 100% need-blind mandate meeting full demonstrated financial need, Andover earns a 10.0 Readiness Score in our indexing model.

Macro-Educational Context

The Greater Boston and broader New England area features the most competitive private boarding school ecosystem globally. The market is defined by legacy institutions possessing large endowments, highly selective admission rates, and historical pipelines to Cambridge, New Haven, and Providence.

Within this landscape, Phillips Academy Andover operates on a larger scale. While top-ranking competitors like Groton or Roxbury Latin leverage intimacy (graduating 50 to 90 seniors annually), Andover functions similarly to a small college. It enrolls roughly 1,170 students, employs over 230 faculty members, and manages assets comparable to major universities.

Scale vs. Intimacy: Andover's ability to maintain a dense placement yield across graduating classes of approximately 320 to 340 students annually demonstrates robust academic tracking and institutional capacity.
Admissions Competition: Operating an acceptance rate that hovers near 13% (falling to 9% during recent cycles), Andover aggregates global academic talent. Our analysis uncovers how this concentration of talent translates into collegiate outcomes.

This report synthesizes our comprehensive evaluation of how Phillips Academy Andover leverages these dynamics to secure its #2 ECPI standing, examining verified, official matriculation lists spanning three graduating classes.

Analytical Framework

Matriculation vs. Acceptance

In all Chicardgo School reports, we explicitly evaluate verified matriculation (where students actually enroll and attend) rather than mere collegiate acceptance rates (Review our Official Methodology). Acceptance figures can be heavily inflated by students holding multiple offers; matriculation provides the definitive metric of institutional alignment and final enrollment.

Boston Private ECPI Components & Weighting
ECPI Component	Weight	Analytical Description
Ivy League+ Matriculation	35%	The proportion of a class enrolling in the 8 Ivies, Stanford, MIT, UChicago, and Duke.
Top 25 (T25) National University	20%	Measures placements into the remainder of the top 25 national research universities.
Top 15 (T15) Liberal Arts College	20%	Tracks enrollment to the nation's premier intimate liberal arts institutions.
College Readiness Score	15%	A composite metric evaluating standardized testing outcomes, endowments, and academic rigor.
Top 50 Broad Placement	10%	Broad measure of baseline four-year matriculation stability outside elite categories.

Institutional Profile: The Andover Ecosystem

Founded in 1778, Phillips Academy Andover operates from a 700-acre campus designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in Andover, Massachusetts. Our analysis of their internal fast facts reveals a highly structured environment designed for collegiate-level academic performance.

Geographic Footprint: Andover, Massachusetts

Table 1: Structural Baselines & Fast Facts (2025-2026 Data)
Institutional Metric	Phillips Academy Profile
Total Enrollment	1,172 Students (861 Boarding, 311 Day)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio	7:1 (Average class size of 13)
Curriculum Scope	300+ courses on a trimester program
Diversity Profile	61% Students of Color; ~15% International
Endowment Power	$1.47 Billion (June 2025 Valuation)

Resource Density

A primary factor in Andover's collegiate placement is its significant financial resources. A $1.47 billion endowment guarantees facilities, such as the Gelb Science Center and the Oliver Wendell Holmes Library, which are comparable to undergraduate campuses. This funding draws applicants from 53 countries and 41 states.

Structure of Academic Rigor

Earning a 10.0 in our Readiness Score, Andover provides clear, statistically verified evidence of academic excellence to university admissions boards.

Standardized Testing: Average SAT of 1410 (ERW: 699, Math: 711); Average ACT of 31 (Classes 2024-2026).
AP Mastery: While intentionally de-emphasizing formal AP classes to maintain curricular independence, 155 students sat for 601 exams in 2026. 87% scored a 4 or 5.
Grading Scale: Operates on a strict 0 to 6.0 scale, removing class rank to reduce internal competition while pushing academic bounds.

Financial Aid & The Economics of Access

A notable feature of Phillips Academy is its accessibility policy. As detailed in the official "Tuition and Financial Aid" policies, Andover's constitution dictates that the school must remain open to "youth of requisite qualifications from every quarter."

100% Need-Blind Admission

True to its constitution, Andover is one of the few independent schools in the nation to practice strict "need-blind admission." An applicant's ability to pay the $76,731 boarding tuition (2025-26) does not factor into the admission decision.

Crucially, Andover meets 100 percent of each student's demonstrated financial need, and fulfills that need entirely through grants rather than loans. This policy ensures the student body is curated entirely by achievement, talent, and promise, generating a highly competitive academic cohort.

Financial Aid Distribution (2025-26)

Total Students on Aid 47%
Annual Aid Budget $29.9 Million
Average Annual Grant $45,000+
Students on Full Scholarship ~12%

All financial aid scholarships are fully guaranteed through endowed funds, driven by the generosity of alumni and friends of the Academy.

The UChicago & Ivy Pipeline

In our Boston private school index, Andover secures a 32% modeled score in the Ivy+ category and 52% in T25 category based on 5-year trailing averages. Our verification of the 2023-2025 graduating classes establishes lower but similar trends. Analyzing the three years cohort of 981 graduates—we recorded 303 placements into Ivy+ institutions, generating a 31% 3-year yield to Ivy+, and 50% T25 Yield.

Verified 3-Year Yield (% of 981 Cohort)

20%

Ivy League Yield

31%

3-Year Ivy+ Yield

4.4%

UChicago Yield Alone

50%

3-Year T25 ECPI Yield

The Chicago Pipeline & The Ivies

Between 2023 and 2025, Andover sustained a high volume of Ivy+ acceptances. Harvard, Columbia, and UChicago serve as the primary destinations, each enrolling over 30 students across the three-year window.

UChicago ~43 (4.4%)
Harvard ~34 (3.5%)
Columbia ~34 (3.5%)
Stanford ~30 (3.1%)
Yale ~29 (3.0%)
Cornell ~28 (2.9%)
Brown ~29 (3.0%)
MIT ~24 (2.4%)
UPenn ~19 (1.9%)
Dartmouth ~15 (1.5%)
Princeton ~9 (0.9%)
Duke ~9 (0.9%)

Regional and T25 Placements

Beyond the Ivy League, Andover maintains consistent placement into top-tier national research universities, leveraging its size to establish broad pipelines.

Northwestern University ~24 (2.4%)
Georgetown University ~21 (2.1%)
University of Michigan ~15 (1.5%)
UNC Chapel Hill ~14 (1.4%)
UC Berkeley ~14 (1.4%)
Carnegie Mellon University ~12 (1.2%)
Emory University ~12 (1.2%)
Vanderbilt University ~7 (0.7%)

National Liberal Arts Placements

While Andover serves primarily as a feeder for global research universities, its placement record includes a 9.0% verified 3-year yield for Top 15 Liberal Arts Colleges. Andover students frequently match across the "Little Ivies" (NESCAC) seeking more intimate undergraduate experiences.

The NESCAC Pipeline

Andover students heavily target Top 15 Liberal Arts Colleges in New England.

Wesleyan University (T15) ~18 (1.8%)
Middlebury College (T15) ~14 (1.4%)
Williams College (T15) ~12 (1.2%)
Amherst College (T15) ~8 (0.8%)
Bowdoin College (T15) ~8 (0.8%)

Specialized & Women's Colleges

Significant volume is also directed toward historic Seven Sisters colleges and military academies.

Wellesley College (T15) ~12 (1.2%)
Barnard College (T15) ~6 (0.6%)
U.S. Naval Academy (T15) ~6 (0.6%)
Swarthmore College (T15) < 5
Pomona College (T15) < 5

Core Matriculations Archive (2023-2025)

The table below highlights all significant placements (5 or more students) across T25, T15 LAC, and other selective institutions utilized in our scoring models over the last three years. (Estimated counts are derived from official matriculation profiles indicating threshold buckets. Percentages reflect the yield against the exact 3-year cohort size: 981 students).

Andover Official Placements (≥ 5 Matriculations)
Institution	3-Year Est. Total	Yield (%)	ECPI Category
University of Chicago	~43	4.4%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Harvard University	~34	3.5%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Columbia University	~34	3.5%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Stanford University	~30	3.1%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Yale University	~28	3.0%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Cornell University	~28	2.9%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Northwestern University	~24	2.4%	T25 National
Brown University	~29	3.0%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Georgetown University	~21	2.1%	T25 National
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology	~24	2.4%	Ivy+ / T25 National
University of Pennsylvania	~19	1.9%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Wesleyan University	~18	1.8%	T15 LAC
University of Michigan	~15	1.5%	T25 National
Dartmouth College	~15	1.5%	Ivy+ / T25 National
UNC Chapel Hill	~14	1.4%	T25 National
Middlebury College	~14	1.4%	T15 LAC
UC Berkeley	~14	1.4%	T25 National
Carnegie Mellon University	~12	1.2%	T25 National
Emory University	~12	1.2%	T25 National
Williams College	~12	1.2%	T15 LAC
Wellesley College	~12	1.2%	T15 LAC
Princeton University	~9	0.9%	Ivy+ / T25 National
Duke University	~9	0.9%	Ivy+ / T25 National
UCLA	~9	0.9%	T25 National
Amherst College	~8	0.8%	T15 LAC

Broad Matriculations (< 5 Students)

Between 2023 and 2025, Andover also placed fewer than 5 students at the following institutions, demonstrating a remarkably diverse global reach beyond the most popular T25.

* Institutions highlighted in bold represent highly selective universities tracked within the Chicardgo ECPI core categories.

American University

Auburn University

Binghamton University

Bucknell University

Butler Community College

Caltech

Campbell University

CSU East Bay

Case Western Reserve

Clark University

Coastal Carolina University

College of Charleston

Connecticut College

Cooper Union

Curry College

Daemen University

Dickinson College

Drama Studio London

Drexel University

Eastman School of Music

Elon University

Emerson College

ESADE Business School

Fairfield University

Florida State University

Franklin W. Olin College

Georgia Inst. of Technology

Grinnell College

Haverford College

Hong Kong Univ of Sci & Tech

Howard University

Imperial College London

Int'l Christian University

Iona University

Johns Hopkins University

Lafayette College

Lake Forest College

Lehigh University

Liberty University

Loyola Marymount University

Macalester College

Morehouse College

Oberlin College

Pomona College

Purdue University

Rice University

Rochester Inst. of Technology

Scripps College

Swarthmore College

University of Notre Dame

University of Southern California

Vassar College

Wake Forest University

Culture & Counseling Strategy

Our review indicates that Phillips Academy Andover pairs its institutional scale with a highly structured College Counseling Office (CCO), led by Dean Sean M. Logan and Director Karina Hernandez-Guarniz.

The Diagnostic Process

As detailed in the "Phillips Academy Andover College Counseling" policies, the CCO approaches placement as a process of "self-discovery and college-discovery." The office is staffed by a dedicated team of 12 experienced counselors, providing individualized attention despite the large cohort size.

Counselors engage students in frequent, individual conferences designed to clarify student goals. This intensive, well-articulated strategy ensures students identify colleges that represent strong structural matches, driving high matriculation yields upon acceptance.

Curricular Independence

Interestingly, Andover actively de-emphasized AP classes in the 21st century to maintain curricular flexibility, citing a desire to push beyond typical standardized limits.

Instead, Andover utilizes 600-level courses, which they explicitly designate as equivalent to sophomore-level undergraduate college courses. This rigorous curriculum signals clear readiness to admissions officers, mitigating the need for standard AP validations.

Alumni Networks and Legacy

An institution's legacy often provides additional context in selective admissions. Andover’s historical footprint is extensive. As noted in the "Phillips Academy - Wikipedia" article, the school has produced two U.S. Presidents, five Nobel laureates, and leaders across global industries, creating an alumni network (Old Phillipians) that extends across academia and business.

Notable Featured Alumni

Class of '42

George H. W. Bush

41st President of the United States.

Class of '64

George W. Bush

43rd President of the United States.

Class of '71

Bill Belichick

Legendary Head Coach, New England Patriots.

Class of '25

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Famed Physician, Poet, and Polymath.

Class of '02

Chris Hughes

Co-founder of Facebook.

Class of '97

Seth Moulton

U.S. Representative for Massachusetts.

Regional Competitors

To contextualize the #2 rank achieved by Andover, we must examine its direct competitors in the New England boarding and day school market, drawing from our Boston Private ECPI dataset.

Groton School

The #1 Ranked School: Groton operates on a smaller scale (385 total students), which correlates with a higher percentage density (37% Ivy+ yield). However, its absolute volume of Ivy+ placements is lower than Andover's.

The Winsor School

Elite Day Competitor: Ranked #3, Winsor is a highly selective girls' day school in Boston. It produces a 29% Ivy+ yield but lacks the global boarding reach and endowment scale of Andover.

Phillips Exeter Academy

Historical Peer: Located in New Hampshire, Exeter mirrors Andover in size, endowment, and volume. The historic Andover-Exeter rivalry extends from the athletic fields directly to Ivy League admission offices.

Implications

When synthesizing this dataset against the broader Boston and national market, Phillips Academy Andover's trajectory offers definitive insights into the dynamics of selective admissions:

•
Scale Without Dilution: Andover proves that an institution can scale its student body (to over 1,170 students) without diluting its placement metrics. Generating ~303 Ivy+ placements across three years demonstrates unparalleled systemic tracking.
•
Endowment Correlation: Our data indicates a strong correlation between Andover's $1.47 billion endowment and its placement volume. This capital guarantees 100% need-blind admissions, allowing the school to aggregate global talent rather than relying on families who can afford the tuition.
•
Securing the #2 Rank: By achieving high absolute volume across the Ivy League and Top 25 national universities, paired with a 10.0 Readiness score, Andover secures the #2 position on our Boston Elite College Placement Index.

FAQ: The Andover Evaluation

Andover achieves its #2 ranking through high volume and sustained density. Our 3-year analysis indicates a 32% Ivy+ matriculation yield, generating 303 placements into Ivy+ institutions from a cohort of 981 students. Its historical 5-year ECPI model yields an even higher 32% score.

Between 2023 and 2025, Andover generated approximately 181 strictly Ivy League matriculations. Harvard and Columbia represent the largest Ivy pipelines, with over 30 enrollments each during this period, supplemented by Yale, Brown, and Cornell.

Yes. Andover adopted a strict need-blind admission policy in 2007. The Academy meets 100 percent of demonstrated need with grants, not loans. Currently, 47% of the student body receives financial aid, distributing nearly $30 million annually.