Tuition and Affordability

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.