The quality of a student’s high school education can largely determine that student’s chances of professional success, at a time when college admissions are more competitive than ever.

In 2016, for example, Stanford University became the first school in history to admit less than 5 percent of applicants, while Harvard University admitted just 6 percent of applicants, according to a report from the Washington Post.

For those who can afford it, boarding schools give students a greater chance at landing at an elite college, with many of these high-school level schools serving as "feeder schools" to some of the nation's most celebrated universities.

In a new research report, Niche, a website that researches the best places to live, work and receive an education, has ranked what it has deemed to be the best boarding high schools in the U.S.

These schools bring a number of advantages.

For example, many boarding schools offer financial assistance beyond graduation. Boarding schools are more likely (58 percent) to extend merit scholarships to their students toward the cost of their education than schools overall (29 percent), according to a report from The Enrollment Management Association.

Boarding school alumni said they felt well prepared academically (87 percent) and socially (78 percent) for college, compared to only 36 percent of public school students in each category, according to the Association of Boarding Schools (TABS). 

More graduates from boarding schools go to college on average and 50 percent obtain advanced level degrees, as compared to only 21 percent of students in public schools, according to TABS.

Niche.com used data from the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. boarding schools, and reviews from students and parents to identify the top boarding school programs in the U.S. Key metrics included SAT/ACT scores, student-teacher ratios, prospective colleges of students, school ratings and parent satisfaction.

Here is a list of Niche's top 10 boarding schools, in ascending order:

10. The Groton School

Groton, Mass.

Tuition and boarding: $56,550

Parents who want their child’s education to incorporate religious values may consider the Groton School. The school is traditionally Episcopal and has a teacher-to-student ratio of 4 to 1.The average endowment per student is 1,000,000, according to the school. Well-known alumni include former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his two sons, Archibald and Quentin Roosevelt.