Paying For It

Private school can be a big investment. Learn more about tuition costs, extra fees and the funding options available. We'll cover financial aid, scholarships, and outside financing. Explore some of the most expensive schools and learn where your child can attend free.

View the most popular articles in Paying For It:

The Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)

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The Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)
The Parents' Financial Statement allows schools to determine the amount you will have to pay for your child's tuition and fees.

Most private schools offer some form of financial aid to help offset tuition. Here is how these programs work in most schools. There are exceptions, of course, because we are talking about private, independent schools. Each school determines how it will handle its financial aid program. No local, regional or national association dictates how financial aid programs will work.

First of all, you have to ask for financial aid. If you don't ask, the school will not know that you need financial assistance. Secondly, you will have to prove that you really do need financial aid by documenting your income and assets. That is where the Parents' Financial Statement comes in. Then, the last thing to consider is that most schools have a limited pool of funds from which to award financial aid. That means that you must submit your application for financial aid as early as you can in order to be considered for a financial aid award.

Here is how The Hill School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania describes its financial aid program:

"The Hill School Financial Aid Program offers assistance to families based upon their financial need and the availability of funds. There are no merit-based scholarships at The Hill School. All awards offered are based on the financial/demonstrated need of the family. Accordingly, no student should be deterred from applying to The Hill due to their family not being able to afford the full tuition. Approximately 40 percent of our current student population

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How Much Do Private Schools Cost?

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How Much Do Private Schools Cost?
Private schools charge everything from nothing at all to well over $50,000 a year for their services. Here are some examples of what the various types of private schools charge.

The cost of a private school education ranges from virtually nothing at several free schools to well over $100,000 at a couple of exclusive European boarding schools. For the purposes of this article you and I will consider the tuition if we are looking at day schools. We will examine tuition and room and board only as we review boarding school costs. I am leaving out all the extras such as riding or music lessons, school trips, travel to and from the school, local transportation, health insurance, computers and so on. These sundries add up quickly so don't forget to take them into account. Also not included are acceptance deposits, application fees and admissions testing.

Here are some examples of what the various types of private schools charge. Remember that this is merely a sampling. You should explore every school which interests you as part of your school search process. Set aside financial concerns for the moment. Focus on finding the school which is the best fit for both you and your child. While paying for private school obviously is a major concern, you will discover that you will have a couple of options available to you.

One final bit of guidance: you will have to visit each school's web site in order to determine what the current costs are. Generally you can find that information under the admissions links.

Day Schools

Day schools are non-residential schools. Most of them offer classroom instruction Monday to Friday. Intramural

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How Do They Pay for That?

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How Do They Pay for That?
You have several options. They include tuition payment plans, loans, scholarships and more.

One of my young employees was horrified to discover that a certain Los Angeles day school charges $30,000 tuition. "How do they pay for that?" was his shocked cry. It's difficult for a 24-year-old who's only making $40,000 to understand how families can afford college much less private school. So, exactly how does a family afford a private school education? Here are some ways they can make that special educational opportunity possible.

Scholarships

There are not many scholarships for K-12 private school students. Still, it is worth doing your research in this area to uncover the scholarships which do exist. Several states have programs set up which allow citizens to contribute to funding for private schools. Arizona and Washington offer special tax credits for gifts to private schools for scholarships.

This video offers an overview of Church Farm School.

Financial Aid

This is the most exciting part of the 'paying for private school' picture. Understand that each private school is independent. Each school stands on its own two feet financially speaking. That's why financial aid will vary from school to school. Older, established schools such as Andover and Exeter have substantial endowment funds. That's why they and a few other schools can offer virtually free education to students who come from families which make below a certain amount. $75,000, for example. But you will have to visit the schools' web sites to

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True or False: Do Declining Endowments Mean Less Financial Aid?

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True or False: Do Declining Endowments Mean Less Financial Aid?
The impact of the 2009 financial meltdown on private school endowments has not been as severe as it was on college endowments.

The article in the New York Times sounds ominous. Certainly, as it points out, private school endowment funds have seen declines in their value as a result of economic and financial meltdowns. But there are other factors which the article does not address which make the impact on financial aid less of an issue than the writer would have you believe.

Let's look at the facts.

Conservative Investment Policies

The investment approach for private school endowments has historically been a conservative, cautious approach. Trustees and their advisors have generally been good stewards of their finances. They avoided risky investments such as derivatives and real estate despite calls from some quarters to maximize returns. The reason for the decline in their portfolio value is simple: just about every investment-grade instrument declined.

Sustainability

Back in the 90s, sustainability became an important principle in private school mission statements and philosophies. The National Association of Independent Schools has taken a leadership role in supporting all kinds of sustainability initiatives including financial sustainability with its 1,500 member schools.

From the Nais: "In order for independent schools to thrive in the 21st century, NAIS believes that they must be sustainable along five dimensions: financial, demographic, programmatic, environmental, and global."

As a result, schools with significant endowments (greater than $10 million) generally were well-positioned to weather the economic storm which 2009 brought on with a vengeance.

Financial Aid is a Priority

Financial aid goes to the heart of most private schools' commitments to diversity. It is not an option. It is

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Financial Aid

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Financial Aid
Financial aid can be complicated, even confusing, for most of us. But don't be intimidated by it. Here's how it works.

Financial aid can be very confusing for many parents. You wonder whether you make too much to be eligible. Is there a specific time when you apply? Here are five facts most of us didn't know about private school financial aid.

1. You have to apply for it.

Applying for financial aid at most private schools is a separate process from applying for admission to the school. You also need to make sure that you apply early. This is particularly important if the school has no specific admissions deadline or rolling admissions.

2. You may be eligible for free tuition if your family income is below a certain amount.

Exeter, Andover, Groton, St. Paul's, and Deerfield all have financial aid programs that offer a tuition-free education to admitted students whose income is below a certain threshold. The threshold varies but is in the $60-75k range.

This video reports of free private school tuition.

"Exeter offers $25 million annually in need-based financial aid. Tuition-free attendance is available for families with incomes below $75,000."

3. There is a common application form.

Many private schools use a common financial aid form. This vastly simplifies the process of applying to several schools. You will have to fill out the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) online at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss. You can also complete a paper version of this application. This will

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Paying For It

FINANCIAL AID
Paying for private school can be expensive and financial aid can be a huge help. Here we'll cover the financial aid options, how eligibility is determined and how it can affect the admissions process.
The Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)
The Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)
Financial Aid 101
Financial Aid 101
School Choice: Vouchers, Scholarships And More
School Choice: Vouchers, Scholarships And More
FREE SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Don't let the cost of private school deter you, many schools offer scholarships. Explore scholarships, how they are funded and get a list of schools your child may be able to attend tuition free.
Free Schools
Free Schools
Scholarship Funding Organizations
Scholarship Funding Organizations