Aiglon College vs International School of Geneva
🇨🇭 Switzerland (boarding) · Side-by-side comparison on verifiable public data.
Neither Aiglon College nor International School of Geneva sits in a market with a public inspectorate, so both are assessed on verifiable accreditation, curriculum authorisation, and published data rather than an official quality rating. One practical difference: Aiglon College offers boarding while the other is day-only — decisive for families who need a residential option. Verify current fees against each school's own figures (see the table below).
Key Facts
| Aiglon College | International School of Geneva | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | IB / British | IB / British / American / National |
| Ages | 6-18 (Years 2-13) | 3-18 |
| Languages of instruction | English | English, French |
| Annual fees | CHF 94,500-159,000 per year boarding (2025/26, varies by age); registration fee CHF 3,000 | CHF 19,800-35,470 per year (tuition only, 2025-2026; registration CHF 2,500 and a one-time Capital Development Fund fee of CHF 4,000 are charged separately) |
| Enrollment | 480 | 4,500 |
| Boarding | Yes | Day only |
| Accreditations | CIS, NEASC, IB World School, COBIS (full member), Round Square (founding member), BSA | Council of International Schools (CIS), Middle States Association (MSA), IB World School |
Strengths
- ✓Long-established (1949) and distinctive mind-body-spirit ethos with daily meditation and mountain expeditions embedded in the core programme, not bolted on
- ✓Strong international accreditation set: CIS and NEASC accreditation plus authorised IB World School status
- ✓Full COBIS membership and founding Round Square membership, signalling sustained external scrutiny and a values-led global network
- ✓Genuinely international student body of 65+ nationalities with a high (~85%) boarding proportion supporting an immersive residential experience
- ✓Published 2025 IB Diploma average of 36.3, above the typical global mean, indicating solid academic outcomes
- ✓Founded in 1924 as the world's first international school and the birthplace of the IB Diploma Programme
- ✓Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP, CP) plus Cambridge IGCSE and the Swiss Maturite
- ✓Genuinely bilingual English and French with a World Languages programme of more than 25 languages
- ✓Strong published 2025 IB outcomes (94-99 percent pass rates; average around 35 points)
- ✓Triple independent endorsement from CIS, MSA and the IB across three established campuses
Trade-offs
- !Among the most expensive schools in the world, with boarding-and-tuition fees reaching roughly CHF 159,000 per year, placing it out of reach for most families
- !Single final-years pathway: IB Diploma only, with no A-Level option for students who prefer a more specialised curriculum
- !No publicly findable verbatim graded inspection report (e.g. a BSO 'Outstanding' band) to externally corroborate quality at the top tier
- !Remote high-altitude alpine location (about 90 minutes from Geneva) can complicate travel and limit access to a large urban centre
- !Mandatory expeditions and a spiritual/meditation curriculum may not suit every student or family seeking a purely conventional academic boarding model
- !Large multi-campus scale (around 4,500 students) can feel institutional rather than intimate
- !Some pathways are campus-specific (IGCSE and Maturite only at La Chataigneraie; CP only at Campus des Nations)
- !Day school only, with no boarding
- !Premium fees plus separate registration and a one-time CHF 4,000 capital fee
- !No single graded public inspection rating exists in the Swiss system
Best Fit For
- • Internationally mobile families seeking a full IB boarding education in a values-led, holistic setting
- • Students who thrive on outdoor challenge, expeditions and an active alpine lifestyle
- • Families attracted to a character-development and mind-body-spirit philosophy alongside academics
- • Strong academic students aiming for a competitive IB Diploma score and global university entry
- • Internationally mobile families wanting an IB pathway from early years to Diploma
- • Bilingual French-and-English households seeking genuine dual-language instruction
- • Families valuing heritage, scale and breadth of recognised curricula
- • Students considering the Swiss Maturite or IGCSE alongside the IB
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
School-reported, unverified: Aiglon publicises a 6,000+ alumni and parent community and positions IB graduates for global university entry; specific university-destination breakdowns were not independently verified in this review.
School-reported, unverified: Ecolint publishes 2025 IB Diploma pass rates of 99 percent (Campus des Nations), 98 percent (La Grande Boissiere) and 94 percent (La Chataigneraie), with an average of about 35 points, drawn from its own admissions FAQ and not independently audited here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Aiglon College or International School of Geneva?
Aiglon College is best for: Internationally mobile families seeking a full IB boarding education in a values-led, holistic setting. International School of Geneva is best for: Internationally mobile families wanting an IB pathway from early years to Diploma. The right choice depends on target curriculum, budget, and family priorities — the two are not linearly comparable.
How do fees compare between Aiglon College and International School of Geneva?
Aiglon College: CHF 94,500-159,000 per year boarding (2025/26, varies by age); registration fee CHF 3,000. International School of Geneva: CHF 19,800-35,470 per year (tuition only, 2025-2026; registration CHF 2,500 and a one-time Capital Development Fund fee of CHF 4,000 are charged separately). Verify against each school's own published fees; some figures are sourced from third-party aggregators.
What curricula do Aiglon College and International School of Geneva offer?
Aiglon College: IB, British. International School of Geneva: IB, British, American, National.
Do Aiglon College or International School of Geneva offer boarding?
Aiglon College: offers boarding. International School of Geneva: day school only.
Questions parents ask
This comparison is BrightKey's independent assessment using verifiable public data only. University-placement figures are school-reported and not independently verified. BrightKey takes no payments from schools. Our method →