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Need-Based Assistance

Need-based tuition assistance is available to families of currently enrolled or newly accepted students in kindergarten – grade 12 who demonstrate need. A family’s need depends on many variables, such as family income, number of dependents, age of parents, other tuition expenses, unusual medical expenses, taxes, assets, and liabilities. 

Need-based award amounts range from $1,000 to $18,500 as documented need warrants and funds permit. Need-based assistance cannot be combined with merit-based awards. At Country Day, it is expected that every family invest monetarily towards their child's education.

Need-based tuition assistance is awarded annually provided the family continues to demonstrate financial need. Therefore, families of returning students must reapply for tuition assistance each year. The family may expect that a student’s tuition assistance award will be consistent from year to year, assuming that the family’s financial circumstances do not change and all deadlines are met.

Prospective students who are interested in need-based tuition assistance must complete the following steps:

  • By December 1, click here to submit the Clarity financial aid form. Families may apply for tuition assistance consideration during Regular Decision. Awards will be made on a rolling basis and as long as funds remain available.
  • The notification of tuition assistance will be mailed to all parents/guardians who have completed the above steps and whose child has been admitted or offered reenrollment to Country Day. Any award will be contingent upon receipt of the signed Federal Income Tax Return. Parents/guardians must also sign and return the student’s Enrollment Contract and Tuition Assistance Award Form.
  • By April 15, upload a signed copy of your current Federal Income Tax Return with all applicable schedules to Clarity. Failure to complete the process for tax verification in a timely manner, will result in your assistance award being cancelled. Depending on the time of year, your award could be cancelled but you could be held liable for the full amount of tuition.

With the exception of Triumphant Scholars, all families are expected to contribute financially, at some level, to the cost of tuition and fees after the deduction of any form of tuition assistance. When new applications for aid exceed the availability of funds, it is sometimes necessary for prospective students to be placed on a waiting list for need-based assistance.

Country Day reserves the right to request additional information before making tuition assistance awards. Awards may also be adjusted when tax documents and other records are different from the information submitted to Clarity. Approximately 30% of the students at Country Day from grades K-12 receive need-based tuition assistance.

Online Forms

To apply for tuition assistance for the 2025-2026 school year as a new or returning student, the Clarity Financial aid processing platform can be found here.