Maharishi School, located in Fairfield, Iowa, has the mission of preparing students for college and developing their consciousness.
Maharishi School provides a Preschool-12th grade day and boarding option for 8th-12th grades, to experience in a safe and healthy environment which develops students' ability to know themselves, think deeply, unleash their creativity, and succeed.
Maharishi School is a non-sectarian, co-ed school with students from over 30 countries.
Students start and end their day with meditation (Transcendental Meditation) and yoga.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
- Grades: (Day Students) PK-12
- Enrollment: 184 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $39,000
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $19,500
- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Maharishi School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 279 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
Grades Offered (Day)
PK-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1972
1907
Campus Size
350 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
184 students
314 students
% Students of Color
43%
26%
% International Students
23%
20%
% Students Boarding
16%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
14
18
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
69%
71%
Tuition Cost
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$39,000
(Covers tuition, room, board and books)
(Covers tuition, room, board and books)
$66,200
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$19,500
$35,600
Tuition international students
$44,000
$57,500
% Students on Financial Aid
75%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$12,000
(Domestic students can receive up to $15000 in aid.)
(Domestic students can receive up to $15000 in aid.)
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
No
No
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
70%
60%
Director of Admissions
Springli Johnson
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
14
18
Courses
AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP English Language Arts, AP English Literature, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Statistics, AP U.S. History, AP US Government
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
6
16
Sports
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
10
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Boy Scouts, Destination Imagination, Environment Club, Interact Club, Robotics Team, Rocketry Team, Student Ambassador Program, Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Ceramics/Pottery, Speech Club
Boy Scouts, Destination Imagination, Environment Club, Interact Club, Robotics Team, Rocketry Team, Student Ambassador Program, Student Council
Arts and Music Programs:
Ceramics/Pottery, Speech Club
School Notes
- Maharishi School's innovative programs expand students' alertness and learning capacity. As a result 100% of our graduates accepted at accredited colleges and universities.
- Our student body is comprised of students from all over the world, including China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and Switzerland. Boarding students live in our on-campus dorm.
- We are located in a thriving town in southeast Iowa. Fairfield was selected by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the top 20 small towns to visit in the United States.
- All students start and end the day with meditation and yoga. The Transcendental Meditation program is a simple, natural, effortless technique practiced worldwide by people of all religions and cultures. The benefits for students include reduction of stress and anxiety, increased intelligence, and enhanced creativity.
- AP/Honors Courses: We offer 8 AP courses. The Honors program provides students with an opportunity to experience greater depth of study and cultivate a deeper level of thinking. Honors courses can be offered upon request in each core subject (Science, Math, History, and English). Students pursuing an Honors track are required to demonstrate scholarly initiative, problem-solving skills and the ability to delve into the fine details of their chosen topic. With an emphasis on depth of understanding, students gain critical and creative thinking skills that set them apart from their peers.
- Our school's Project-Based Learning allows for more time to pursue passions and build a portfolio by having a 70-minute project period 3 days a week. Students can select pre-designed projects such as play production, rocketry, application prototyping, earth-to-table (ceramics and cooking), performing arts, entrepreneurship, sustainable fashion game show production, songwriting, music production, film production, and food blog. Students are also encouraged to propose their own projects.
- 100% of graduates are admitted to accredited colleges and universities, including Princeton, Grinnell, University of Chicago, Rhode Island School of Art and Design, and Georgetown.
- Accredited by Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS). The Iowa Department of Education has awarded grades 7-12 college preparatory status in recognition of the high percentage of graduates accepted at four-year colleges and universities.
- Classes consistently score in the top one percent on national standardized tests.
- 18 National Merit Scholars and 34 National Merit Semi-Finalists during our 30-year history.
- Day program preschool through 12th grade. Boarding option 9th through 12th grade.
- Maharishi School accreditations: Small Boarding School Association; Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Heather Hartnett - CEO, Founding Partner: Human Ventures
- Ari Berman - Author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America and Herding Donkeys. Writer for The Nation magazine
- Jennie Rothenberg Gritz - Senior Editor of Smithsonian Magazine
- Wells Butler - co-founder of Ice Cream Castles (children's contemporary clothing)
- Jonathan Jarvis - Co-Founder & CEO at Token
- Zachary Sluser - director/filmmaker of short films and music videos featured worldwide
- Jonathan Sherr - actor; star of My Darling is a Foreigner, Love in Tokyo, and the web series English Teachers.
- Heather Chase - author; founder of Models with Conscience, an international group promoting cruelty-free, eco-conscious causes
- Geoff Boothby - award-winning director/filmmaker (Wormtooth Nation 2008)
- Cullen Thomas - award-winning film editor and lighting designer (Wormtooth Nation, 2008)
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Maharishi School cost?
Maharishi School's tuition is approximately $39,000 for boarding students and $19,500 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of Maharishi School?
The acceptance rate of Maharishi School is 70%, which is higher than the boarding school average of 60%.
Who are famous alumni from Maharishi School?
Maharishi School famous alumni include: Heather Hartnett, Ari Berman, Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Wells Butler, Jonathan Jarvis, Zachary Sluser, Jonathan Sherr, Heather Chase, Geoff Boothby and Cullen Thomas.
What sports does Maharishi School offer?
Maharishi School offers 6 interscholastic sports: Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field and Volleyball.
What is Maharishi School's ranking?
Maharishi School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for High percentage of students on financial aid.
When is the application deadline for Maharishi School?
The application deadline for Maharishi School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
Alumni Reviews Review School
Review
Description
Maharishi School gave me more than an education, it gave me tools to help live a balanced life, and a community of people who I still interact with 15 years after graduating. The consciousness-based education. . .
I went to a lot of other schools before Maharishi School, and what stood out the most for me at Maharishi School was the emphasis on personal development. Instead of just filling up my brain. . .
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