Kimball Union Academy

What Kimball Union Academy does

Kimball Union Academy (KUA) is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) boarding and day school for grades 9–12, founded in 1813 and located on a 1,300-acre campus in Meriden, New Hampshire, approximately 12 miles from Dartmouth College. The school serves 340 students, of whom 76% board on campus and 24% commute as day students, with a 6:1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 10; 78% of full-time teaching faculty hold advanced degrees. Its academic platform centers on the Nine by Design ninth-grade transition program, three Scholar Programs (Global, Arts, and STEM), the Cullman Scholarship, 130 unique course offerings including 20 AP courses, and dedicated college advising, supported by 21 interscholastic sports, performing and visual arts, wellness services, and the Schafer Family Library.

KUA operates a direct-to-consumer enrollment model: families apply through the admission office, attend campus visits and Admitted Student Day programs, and pay tuition whose pricing is not publicly disclosed. The school recruits both domestically and internationally through regional events in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong and at the Hanover Inn at Dartmouth College. Revenue is generated primarily through annual tuition and fees (with boarding at the higher price tier) and supplemented by philanthropic giving via The KUA Fund, planned giving, and major capital gifts—the largest of which is a $10 million bequest from alumnus Phillip H. Morse '60 (January 2026) funding the new Morse Athletics & Wellness Center.

The Academy has historically been distinguished by its intentionally small scale, deep residential community, and proximity-based collaboration with Dartmouth College. Recent strategic momentum includes a record application cycle for 2026–27, the 210th Commencement (May 2026), and the launch of the Morse Athletics & Wellness Center capital project. There are no subsidiaries, no parent company, no patents or AI/ML capabilities, and no publicly disclosed financial statements; the institution is governed by a Board of Trustees and operates autonomously under Head of School Tyler Lewis.

Name

Kimball Union Academy

Legal name

Kimball Union Academy

Website

https://kua.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1813

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kimball Union Academy is a private nonprofit boarding and day school (grades 9–12) founded in 1813 in Meriden, NH, near Dartmouth College, serving 340 students with a 6:1 faculty ratio, 130 courses, and revenue from tuition plus philanthropic gifts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Meriden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: KUA is a private boarding and day school that generates revenue through tuition payments from families. The school offers financial aid and the admission process includes tuition and financial aid information.
2. Gifts and Donations: The school receives philanthropic support through The KUA Fund, planned giving programs, and major gifts such as the $10 million bequest from Phillip H. Morse '60 for the Athletics and Wellness Center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kimball Union Academy is an independent, nonprofit boarding and day school for grades 9-12 located in Meriden, New Hampshire. It sells an annual tuition-based college-preparatory education comprising 130 unique courses (including 20 AP courses), the Nine by Design ninth-grade transition program, three Scholar Programs (Global, Arts, STEM), the Cullman Scholarship Program, 21 interscholastic sports, performing and visual arts, college advising, residential life, and wellness services to a student body of 340 (76% boarding, 24% day).

Product overview

Kimball Union Academy is a private boarding and day high school offering a comprehensive educational program through its unified academic platform. The institution's core offerings include the Nine by Design ninth-grade transition program, three Scholar Programs (Global, Arts, and STEM), and the prestigious Cullman Scholarship Program. Academic programming features 130 unique courses including 20 AP courses, supported by college advising, learning support, global education, and The Schafer Family Library. Beyond academics, KUA provides athletics (21 interscholastic sports), performing and visual arts programs, and wellness services. The school operates the KUA Live broadcast platform for streaming campus events. A major infrastructure project underway is the Morse Athletics & Wellness Center, funded by a $10 million gift.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nine by Design (Ninth-Grade Program)

Quantifiable outcome

• 115 students graduated in Class of 2026 (210th Commencement)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tabor Academy: Maritime Massachusetts boarding school for grades 9-12; similar scale, residential mission, and New England boarding school competitive set.
• Holderness School: New Hampshire boarding and day school in Plymouth, NH serving grades 9-12. Same state and applicant pool, with comparable program structure and tuition positioning.
• Phillips Exeter Academy: Elite New England boarding school in Exeter, NH serving grades 9-12 with Harkness method pedagogy. Most direct competitor for high-achieving boarding students in the same geography and price tier.
• St. Paul's School: Highly selective boarding school in Concord, NH serving grades 9-12. Same regional, demographic, and tuition tier as KUA, with comparable college-prep and residential model.
• Deerfield Academy: Elite Massachusetts boarding school in Deerfield, MA serving grades 9-12. Closely comparable in scale, college-prep mission, athletics scope, and applicant profile.
• Choate Rosemary Hall: Premier Connecticut boarding school serving grades 9-12 with similar Scholar Program structure, robust athletics, and feeder pipeline to top colleges.
• The Hotchkiss School: Elite Connecticut boarding school for grades 9-12 with comparable scale, signature scholarship programs, and global education offerings.
• Lawrenceville School: Highly selective New Jersey boarding school serving grades 9-12 with House system. Competes with KUA for top applicants seeking premium residential college-prep experiences.
• Groton School: Elite Massachusetts boarding school serving grades 9-12 with similar intimate scale, faculty credentials, and college placement record.
• Loomis Chaffee School: Connecticut boarding and day school for grades 9-12 with comparable program breadth (scholar tracks, athletics, arts) and tuition tier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/user49838663/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/kimballunion
• Instagraminstagram.com/kimballunion/?hl=en
• Xx.com/kimballunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kimball-union-academy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kimball Union Academy