Financial Assistance & Merit Scholarships

The 2024-25 application for financial assistance will be available on October 1, 2023.  The deadline to apply for financial aid is December 1, 2023. (Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed only if there are enough funds available.) The online application for financial assistance is separate from the admission application, but should be completed concurrently. Returning families who complete the financial assistance process by the necessary deadline will receive notification of an award with their re-enrollment agreement and new families with their letter of acceptance.

We offer need-based financial assistance to students at all grade levels (Pre-K - 12).  There is more limited funding for students in the lower grades (through 5th grade). For the  2023-24  school year, Friends awarded over $7.5 million to families.  

Families are required to apply for financial aid each year.  Current families who are receiving financial assistance can expect to receive a similar percent of tuition funded each year if their financial situation remains fairly consistent.  However, if the financial picture changes for a family, it is possible that an award may be adjusted. Families who miss the filing deadline can expect that the awards will be adjusted to reflect the remaining financial aid budget.

Friends School uses the calculations provided by Clarity for suggestion tuition (the tuition amount that can be paid by the family)  as the primary measure of determining the financial aid award. Factors used in the suggested tuition calculation include, but are not limited to income, assets, medical expenses, educational expenses, retirement plans, alimony/child support, daycare/eldercare expenses, and other annual expenses. All adult family members living in the household(s) are expected to participate in paying for tuition; expectations are regardless of any legal agreements including custody, prenuptial, alimony or child support. 

Applying for financial aid is not a guarantee of an award, and Friends is not able to fund the full financial need of every applicant,.  Families should expect to pay some portion of the tuition, even if they qualify for financial assistance.  

Yes.  Because the demand for financial aid from applicants increases every year, we are not able to fund all students.  However, the lower a student’s level of need, the more likely we are to be able to meet it. So, we encourage families to apply, even if they only qualify for a small award.  We recognize that every family situation is different and that even a small amount of assistance can make a critical difference for many families.

In the case of parents/caregivers who do not live together (e.g. divorced, separated, never married), each parent/guardian household must complete the Clarity application process in order to be considered for a financial aid award.  Friends School expects that both parents and all adults who are financially responsible for a student contribute to the cost of a student’s education regardless of legal agreements. Resources from both parents and stepparents, regardless of custody or other legal issues, are considered when determining a family’s ability to pay.  Friends School awards a single grant to the student; it is the responsibility of the parents to determine a payment schedule.

For families who are not able to submit all required documentation, or if a parent is no longer involved in the life of the child in any way, please speak directly with the Director of Enrollment Management to determine if you can be considered for financial assistance. 

Friends School has a need-blind admission process, so a student’s financial need plays no part in the admission decision.  Families apply for admission and financial assistance concurrently, but they are separate processes, All financial assistance applications are kept strictly confidential, and do not influence admissions decisions.  However, the School has limitations to the amount of total financial assistance that can be granted, and not every student who applies for aid will receive an award. All financial assistance decisions are considered to be confidential agreements between Friends School and the recipient family, and are treated accordingly.   

As part of its calculation, Clarity takes into consideration any children at other tuition-paying schools and gives some allowance for those expenses.

In order to make fair, informed, and expeditious decisions for all families it is vitally important to adhere to the established deadlines. However, when a family is unable to obtain all necessary tax information by the financial assistance deadlines, a provisional Form 1040 may be submitted. Of course, all awards will be subject to verification of the official Form 1040 and other required documentation. Families who submit late applications for assistance may receive reduced awards, reflecting the remaining budget at that time.

All financial aid application information is highly confidential, and is only seen by the Director of Enrollment Management. Members of the Financial Aid Committee know which families apply and will see the final award amount. Faculty members and other School employees are not privy to any financial materials, nor are they aware of which families apply for and receive financial assistance.

Financial aid awards are applied directly to the cost of tuition.  Costs not covered by financial assistance include books (grades 6-12) , the cost of lunch, optional transportation fees, instrument rental as needed, some incidental athletic costs and other miscellaneous fees.  Other costs may include Tuition Refund Insurance, which is dependent upon the payment plan option selected.  

Families who apply for assistance but do not qualify have several options, including a variety of payment plans. Additionally, in some circumstances, a limited number of low interest loans are available.