Beyond Tuition: Total Cost of Attendance for International High School Students in 2026

Last Updated: May 2026

Total cost of attendance for international high school students covers every expense required to complete a program - not just published program fees. It includes accommodation, travel, health insurance, visa costs, and personal spending. According to IIE Open Doors (2025), over 25,000 international students attend US high schools each year, and families consistently report that understanding the complete financial picture before enrollment is one of their most critical planning needs.

Amerigo Education partners with 40 Niche A+/A rated schools across the US, Canada, and the UK, supporting 3,500+ students from 55+ countries. The Class of 2025 achieved 97% admission to Top 100 US universities. The student accommodations model at Amerigo bundles program fees, accommodation, and 24/7 support into a single fee structure, which simplifies cost planning compared to programs that charge each service separately.

This guide breaks down the total cost of attendance across US, Canada, and UK programs: what is included in program fees, what families pay separately, and how the Top 100 Guarantee factors into long-term financial planning.

Key Takeaways

• US program fee range: Amerigo US Signature Schools range from $40,000/year at entry level to $75,000-$110,000+/year at premium, with accommodation, support, and university counseling included.
• Non-program costs: Travel, health insurance, personal expenses, and visa fees are not included in program fees and must be budgeted separately - typically $5,000-$15,000/year in addition to program fees.
• UK program cost: Brentwood School Essex costs $56,358 USD in school fees plus a $3,000 Amerigo administration fee per year (2025).
• Top 100 Guarantee: Eligible students who do not gain Top 100 admission receive a refund of up to $50,000 USD in senior year program fees.
• F-1 visa costs: F-1 (student visa for academic programs) applicants pay a one-time SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee of $350 and a US consulate application fee of approximately $185, separate from program fees.

What Does Total Cost of Attendance Include?

Total cost of attendance covers all expenses a family pays to support an international student through a US high school program year - program fees, accommodation, travel, health insurance, visa costs, and personal spending. At Amerigo US Signature Schools, the program fee covers enrollment at a Niche A+/A rated partner school, access to the on-campus international department, university counseling, monthly progress reports, school activity calendars and event announcements, and 24/7 emergency assistance.

Families should apply the full cost-of-attendance model when budgeting: program fee plus estimated travel, health insurance, personal expenses, and one-time visa costs. Non-program costs typically add $5,000-$15,000 per year depending on the student's origin country and personal spending patterns.

1. Program fees: Covers school enrollment, accommodation, on-campus international department access, and core student services.
2. Travel: International flights to and from the US (arrival, holidays, graduation) - estimated $2,000-$5,000/year depending on origin.
3. Health insurance: Required in most US states for F-1 students; not included in program fees - families budget separately.
4. Personal expenses: Clothing, toiletries, phone plans, and optional activities - typically $2,000-$4,000/year.

What Is Not Included in Program Fees?

The Amerigo program fee does not cover every cost of attendance. International travel - flights to the US at enrollment and return flights during school holidays - is not included and varies significantly by student origin. According to NAIS (2025), families at private US high schools consistently budget travel as a separate annual cost item that ranges widely depending on departure country and airline pricing.

Health insurance for F-1 students is required in most US states and must be arranged separately. Costs vary by school, state, and plan; families typically budget $1,500-$3,000/year. Personal expenses such as clothing, mobile phone plans, weekend activities, and school supplies are also outside the program fee. Subject-specific tutoring at Amerigo schools is available at additional cost.

How Much Do US High School Programs Cost?

Amerigo US Signature School program fees for 2025 start from $40,000/year at entry level and range to $75,000-$110,000+/year at premium Signature Schools. Entry-level programs are typically based at schools in the Midwest and smaller metro areas; premium programs are at schools in major markets including California and the Northeast. All fee tiers include the same core services: partner school enrollment, four accommodation options, on-campus international department access, and university counseling.

According to NACAC (2024), total cost of attendance at US private high schools averages $59,000-$62,000/year for international boarding students when accommodation and support are included - a figure consistent with Amerigo's mid-range Signature School programs.

The university guaranteed admission pathway - the Top 100 Guarantee - is available at US Signature Schools regardless of program fee tier, subject to meeting all four eligibility requirements. Families can use the find-your-school tool to explore partner schools by location, fee tier, and program type.

What Does Studying at Brentwood UK Cost?

Brentwood School Essex - one of Amerigo's two UK partner schools alongside Berkhamsted School - costs $56,358 USD in school fees plus a $3,000 Amerigo administration fee per year (2025). The administration fee covers application coordination, visa support, enrollment administration, billing, pre-arrival planning, and ongoing parent communication in native languages delivered by in-country staff remotely. UK guardianship fees are not charged by Amerigo, though families are required to arrange and pay guardianship separately as a UK regulatory requirement.

The UK program at Brentwood does not include an on-campus Amerigo international department, monthly progress reports, school activity calendars and event announcements, or Life360 safety technology. Amerigo's role at Brentwood covers enrollment coordination, administrative support, and native-language family communication. University counseling at Brentwood is managed entirely by Brentwood's own counseling team for all university destinations - US, UK, or global.

What Extra Costs Do F-1 Students Pay?

International students at Amerigo US Signature Schools on the F-1 student visa for academic programs pay one-time visa application costs that fall outside program fees. The US consulate visa application fee is approximately $185. The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee, paid to SEVP before the visa interview, is $350 for F-1 students. These are one-time costs at initial enrollment; students who maintain continuous F-1 status and do not depart on a new visa do not repeat these fees.

ZF Visa, Amerigo's optional third-party visa support partner, provides assistance with the F-1 application process for an additional fee. ZF Visa applies to US program enrollment only - it is never used for UK Student Visa applications at Brentwood or Berkhamsted, which families handle directly through those schools' admissions offices.

1. F-1 visa application fee: Approximately $185, paid to the US consulate when scheduling the visa interview.
2. SEVIS fee: $350, paid to SEVP before the visa interview; required for all F-1 applicants at initial enrollment.
3. ZF Visa support (optional): Third-party visa assistance service for an additional fee; US program only.
4. I-20 form: Issued by the partner school at no additional charge after enrollment is confirmed.

Does the Top 100 Guarantee Affect Cost Planning?

Amerigo's Top 100 Guarantee changes long-term cost planning by providing a financial backstop for eligible students. Eligibility requires all four criteria: two consecutive years of enrollment at a US Signature School, a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.2 or higher, TOEFL 85+, and at least one AP (Advanced Placement), IB, or Honors course. Eligible students who do not gain admission to a Top 100 US university receive a refund of up to $50,000 USD in senior year program fees.

Families factoring the Guarantee into cost planning should note the two-year enrollment requirement. Students entering at Grade 9 or 10 meet the threshold naturally before graduation. The Guarantee applies at US Signature Schools only - not at FEIA Canada, Brentwood, or Berkhamsted. The Top 50 Track, available at US Signature Schools for students targeting elite universities, applies higher entry criteria alongside the same program fee structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the Amerigo program fee?

The Amerigo program fee covers enrollment at a Niche A+/A rated partner school, accommodation in one of four options (homestay, off-campus residences, on-campus residences at select schools, or self-provided accommodation for students with nearby family), on-campus international department access, university counseling, 24/7 emergency assistance, and monthly progress reports, school activity calendars and event announcements. Travel, health insurance, and personal expenses are not included.

What is not included in the Amerigo program fee?

International travel is not included in program fees. Health insurance is required in most US states for F-1 students but must be arranged separately; families typically budget $1,500-$3,000/year. Personal expenses including clothing, entertainment, and optional activities are also separate. The F-1 visa application fee (approximately $185) and the SEVIS fee ($350) are one-time costs paid at enrollment and are not covered by program fees.

How much does Amerigo's US program cost per year?

Amerigo US Signature School program fees start from $40,000/year at entry level and range to $75,000-$110,000+/year at premium Signature Schools. All tiers include school enrollment, four accommodation options, on-campus international department access, and university counseling. When adding non-program costs of $5,000-$15,000/year (travel, health insurance, personal expenses, visa), total annual cost of attendance ranges from approximately $45,000 to $125,000+.

What is the SEVIS fee for international high school students?

The SEVIS fee is $350, paid by F-1 students to SEVP before the visa interview. It is a one-time cost at initial enrollment. Students who maintain valid F-1 status without departing on a new visa do not pay the SEVIS fee again. The SEVIS fee is separate from the US consulate visa application fee of approximately $185; families should budget for both when planning initial enrollment costs.

Is health insurance included in Amerigo program fees?

Health insurance for F-1 students is not included in Amerigo program fees. Most US states require health coverage for international students, and many partner schools mandate specific plans. Families typically budget $1,500-$3,000/year for health insurance. Amerigo's on-campus team can advise on health insurance requirements at each specific US Signature School partner during the pre-departure planning process.

How much does the Brentwood UK program cost?

Brentwood School Essex costs $56,358 USD in school fees plus a $3,000 Amerigo administration fee per year (2025). The administration fee covers enrollment coordination, visa support, billing, pre-arrival planning, and ongoing parent communication. UK guardianship fees are not charged by Amerigo but are required by UK regulation; families arrange and pay guardianship separately to an external provider as a condition of enrollment at any UK school.

What does the Top 100 Guarantee refund cover?

The refund covers up to $50,000 USD in senior year program fees for eligible students who do not gain admission to a Top 100 US university. It is a cap, not a fixed amount. Eligibility requires two consecutive years of enrollment at a US Signature School, a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, TOEFL 85+, and at least one AP, IB, or Honors course completed. The Guarantee applies at US Signature Schools only.

What does FEIA Canada cost?

FEIA Canada program fees follow a separate pricing schedule from US Signature School programs. Families considering the Canadian pathway should request current fee information from the Amerigo recruitment team, as FEIA Canada pricing is distinct from US ranges. FEIA Canada runs its own boarding facilities and includes ESL classes; no pre-enrollment English preparation is required. The study in Canada page provides additional program details.

Does Amerigo charge for F-1 visa application support?

ZF Visa, Amerigo's optional third-party F-1 visa support partner, provides assistance with the US visa application process for an additional fee. This service is optional - families can complete the F-1 application independently with guidance from the school's DSO (Designated School Official). ZF Visa applies to US program enrollment only and is not available for UK Student Visa applications at Brentwood or Berkhamsted.

How should families budget for personal expenses abroad?

Personal expenses for international high school students typically include clothing, toiletries, mobile phone plans, and weekend activities. Families generally budget $2,000-$4,000/year for personal spending, though actual costs vary by student lifestyle and school location. Urban school locations may carry higher personal spending costs than suburban or rural settings. Amerigo's on-campus team can provide school-specific guidance on typical personal expense ranges during the pre-departure orientation.

Conclusion

Total cost of attendance for international high school students includes program fees plus separate costs for travel, health insurance, personal expenses, and one-time visa fees. Amerigo US Signature School program fees range from $40,000/year at entry level to $75,000-$110,000+/year at premium, with accommodation and support included. Families should plan for $5,000-$15,000/year in additional costs beyond program fees.

Plan Your International High School Budget

To learn more about studying in America at an Amerigo partner school, contact us to speak with a program advisor about total cost of attendance, or apply now to begin the enrollment process.

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About the Author

This guide was written by the Amerigo Education content team, drawing on program data from staff operating the on-campus international department at 40 Niche A+/A rated US, Canadian, and UK partner schools. Learn more about Amerigo Education.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information for educational purposes only. Families should conduct independent research, request current program data from providers, and consult with program representatives regarding specific circumstances. Contact us with questions.