Tuition and Affordability

The Tower Hill School  financial assistance program is designed to make a Tower Hill education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Tower Hill is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts. In 2023-2024, 38% of our students received financial assistance—with an average aid award of $12,200.

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.

Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Tower Hill requires you to upload additional tax documentation including your pay stub. 

Please complete the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents at the time of your admission application. Although we will consider applications after our first deadline of January 3, 2024, the financial aid budget is limited. 

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available as well as email support at support@claritytuition.com in both English and Spanish.
 

Financial Assistance FAQ

List of 13 frequently asked questions.

  • Q: Who is eligible to apply for financial assistance?

    Families with candidates from prekindergarten through 12th grade are all eligible to apply.
  • Q: What does the financial assistance cover?

    Financial assistance covers tuition and some fees. Lunch fees, books and club trips are not covered.
  • Q: Do the financial assistance awards need to be repaid?

    No, the awards are grants—not loans—and do not have to be repaid.
  • Q: Will applying for financial assistance affect my child’s admission acceptance?

    No. While the processes for financial assistance and for admission run concurrently, they are completely separate. Financial assistance applications are kept strictly confidential, and do not influence admission decisions.
  • Q: Does everyone that applies for financial assistance receive an award?

    Although Tower Hill’s financial assistance is considerable, funds are limited and may be insufficient to meet the needs of all qualified applicants. Therefore, some families may be placed in a financial wait pool to see if any funds become available at a later date. It is extremely important that applicants meet the filing deadlines to receive timely consideration. 
  • Q: What is the methodology in determining if we qualify for financial assistance?

    Although Clarity provides Tower Hill School with a calculation of what a family should pay for an independent school education, the school financial assistance committee makes the final determination regarding financial assistance awards. Parents requesting financial assistance are required to complete a financial assistance application and financial awards are based on the standardized calculations derived by the school and Clarity methodology using data from the financial assistance application. The methodology used to determine the parental contribution considers many items, including assets, liabilities, income, and family size and the number of students in tuition-charging schools. As the financial assistance committee looks at financial assistance applications, it differentiates between necessary expenses and money spent for lifestyle choices. With respect to the latter, we will not provide assistance to offset "lifestyle" expenditures that could have been directed to education. Thus, the parental contribution calculated by the school might differ from the amount suggested by the family in the application. 
  • Q: If we receive a financial assistance award this year will we receive the same award next year?

    Families receiving financial assistance must reapply annually.  Once assistance has been awarded, families can expect that it will be renewed, provided the family's financial situation has not changed substantially, and the student has remained in good academic and behavioral standing. 
  • Q: What if I am applying after the financial assistance deadline?

    Financial assistance may still be awarded after the first round of admission decisions depending on the availability of funds. Once all financial assistance funds have been allocated, a wait pool will be established to see if funds become available at a later date.
  • Q: What consideration is given if a family has several children they wish to enroll in an independent school?

    The financial assistance committee uses the Clarity methodology to determine what a family might reasonably expect to contribute toward educational expenses. The total amount of assistance available to a family is divided among all children attending tuition charging schools through the undergraduate degree level.
  • Q: How do I apply for financial assistance if I am not married to the child's other parent?

    In keeping with the NAIS Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid, the school considers tuition the responsibility of both parents. For students whose parents are divorced, separated or were never married, Tower Hill School requires that both natural (or adoptive) parents, in addition to spouses or live-in partners, must complete a financial assistance application and provide required documents. Tower Hill will consider the obligations of the custodial parent or step parent. Consideration of the non-custodial natural parent will be based upon the belief that a family’s contribution for education is a reflection of their ability to contribute, not their willingness to contribute. Please note that failure to provide all parental income information may be a determining factor in the granting of financial aid. In cases where applications are completed by non-married parents, information is kept separate and confidential and will never be shared by the school with the other parent.
  • Q: How can we justify the commitment of resources for a Tower Hill education when those resources could be set aside for college?

    We believe that an independent school education fosters a young person’s intellect, as well as their character. Our hope is that students will emerge from Tower Hill feeling well-prepared for their next chapter, with increased choices and opportunities in their pursuit of higher education. Our graduates typically attend colleges that possess extraordinarily strong financial assistance programs to support families in financing their child’s education at the next level.
  • Q: Does Tower Hill offer athletic or merit scholarships?

    Regulations from the state athletic agency prohibit Tower Hill from offering athletic scholarships. Tower Hill does have a limited number of endowed scholarship funds for new students entering ninth grade based on academic achievement combined with a well-rounded background in the arts, athletics and service.
  • Q: Whom should I contact if I have questions about financial assistance?

    Please contact the Director of Advancement and Enrollment Management - Kristin Mumford at kmumford@towerhill.org.

Tuition and Fees

List of 1 items.

  • 2024-2025 Tuition and Fees


    Tower Hill School is committed to keeping tuition rates as reasonable as possible, without sacrificing the quality of education upon which our reputation is founded. We want to provide the best teachers and the best educational experience possible for your child.

    Tuition
    Tower Tots - $19,100
    Prekindergarten - $26,100
    Kindergarten - $26,600
    Grade 1 - $28,100
    Grade 2 - $28,100
    Grade 3 - $28,100
    Grade 4 - $28,100
    Grade 5 - $31,300
    Grade 6 - $31,300
    Grade 7 - $33,400
    Grade 8 - $33,400
    Grade 9 - $36,600
    Grade 10 - $36,600
    Grade 11 - $36,600
    Grade 12 - $36,600

    Dining Room Charges
    Tower Tots/Prekindergarten  - $1,100
    Kindergarten - $1,100
    Grades 1-2 - $1,250
    Grades 3-4 - $1,325
    Grades 5-8 - $1,600
    Grades 9-12 - $1,650

    Other Fees
    Comprehensive Fee (all grades): $225
    International Fee (if applicable): $2,500

    Student Billing Contact Information
    studentbilling@towerhill.org
    302-510-1006


Tuition Payment Plans


Tower Hill families have the option of paying tuition costs through a variety of payment plan options: 

* 60% of the tuition due in August, 40% due in January
* 10 or 12-month interest-free payment plans
* Other options available via our Business Office
 
Please contact Student Billing with any questions:
studentbilling@towerhill.org 
302-575-0550, ext. 226 or
302-510-1006 (direct)

Information on Dewar Tuition Refund Plan 2023-2024

Financial Aid Committee


Kristin Mumford

Director of Advancement and Enrollment Management

Matt Twyman '88
Director of Upper School Admission and Financial Aid

Alyssa Worrilow
Director of Lower and Middle School Admission

Eric Norman
Chief Financial Officer 

Contact Us


Contact our Admission team if you have questions at thsadmit@towerhill.org or 302-657-8350.