Tuition and Affordability

List of 14 frequently asked questions.

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

  Any candidate that is applying for admission at Tower Hill from grades Prekindergarten through 12th Grade.

• Q: What does the financial assistance cover?

  Financial assistance awards cover tuition and some fees however; it does not cover lunch fees, books or club trips.

• 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. The majority of financial assistance is awarded to students in grades 5 through 12. Students in Prekindergarten through Grade 4 are welcome to apply for assistance, but grants at these levels are limited and rarely exceed 50% of tuition.

• Q: What is the methodology in determining if we qualify for financial assistance?

  Although School and Student Services 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 Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) and assistance awards are based on the standardized calculations derived by the School & Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) using data from the PFS. 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, beyond a certain point, we will not provide assistance to offset "lifestyle" expenditures that could have been directed to education. The parental contribution calculated by the School might differ from the SSS calculation. The committee will, for example, consider the potential for income to be earned by a non-working parent who does not have small children at home.

• Q: If we receive a financial assistance award this year will we receive the same award next year?

  Current families who have children enrolled at Tower Hill School and are receiving need-based financial assistance can expect to receive a similar grant each year if the financial analysis from SSS, income, and assets remain the same. However, every family must reapply for financial assistance each year and meet all stated deadlines. If the current financial picture for the family changes, the award may be adjusted. Request a family copy of the SSS report each year to ascertain your eligibility for assistance. Families who file late applications can expect that the awards will be adjusted to reflect the remaining financial aid budget.

• 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 SSS 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: What if I am unsure what my income will be for the 2020 tax year?

  Follow the SSS instructions regarding the tax year. If necessary, use a pay stub from late in 2019 to estimate your annual income for 2020. 

• Q: How do I apply for financial assistance if I am not married to the child's other parent?

  For students whose parents are divorced, separated, or were never married, Tower Hill School requires that natural (or adoptive) parents, in addition to spouses or live-in partners, complete a separate SSS application for each household and submit all required forms. 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 “the ability to contribute, not the willingness to contribute,” which is standard NAIS/SSS policy. In some circumstances when a parent is no longer involved in the life of the child a letter of verification from a disinterested third party (lawyer, judge, social worker or clergy will be required). Please note that failure to provide all parental income information may be a determining factor in the granting of financial aid.

• 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 the value of an independent school education positively develops not only the intellect but also the character of a young person. Our hope is that students will emerge from Tower Hill School with greater college preparedness, maturity, and motivation, and, therefore, increased choices and opportunities for higher education. Our graduates typically attend colleges that possess extraordinarily strong financial assistance programs to assist families in financing their child’s education at the next level.

• Q: Does Tower Hill offer athletic or merit scholarships?

  Tower Hill does not offer athletic scholarships and regulations from the state athletic agency prohibits us from offering athletic scholarships. Tower Hill has some limited endowed scholarship funds for new students entering 9th 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 Upper School Admission and Financial Assistance - Bill Ushler at 302-657-8350 or wushler@towerhill.org.