Published April 15, 2008

One of the major issues most families consider when thinking of sending their child to boarding school is the cost. Though it may seem daunting, the boarding school financial aid process isn’t as complex as you might think, and understanding the system will pay off in the long term.

 

Recently, boarding schools began reshaping their financial aid policies to allow more talented, middle-class students to attend their schools. Today, a large percentage of students at boarding schools receive some form of financial aid from grants, and in some cases that number is as high as 40%. Each school’s aid policy is different, and officers are your best bet for accurate information. Contacting them will give you a better understanding of the steps you will need to take, but below are some basic tips that will apply to all schools.

 

Financial aid is funding intended to help students cover the cost of attending private schools (tuition, board, fees, etc.). Aid does not have to be repayed (unlike loans).

 

Generally, the endowment of a school correlates directly into the amount of financial aid that can be offered. Each year, a percentage of the budget is set aside for financial aid. Thus, it’s very easy for a boarding school to run out of financial aid. Tip: sending in all the required documents as soon as possible increases the chances that your student gets an affordable package.

 

Aid generally comes in two forms: merit based or need based.

 

Merit-based aid (synonymous in most schools with grants) examines the academic, artistic, athletic and/or potential of the student, regardless of their ability to pay. Usually the criteria are laid out by the school or the sponsor of the scholarship. These scholarships can range from a small award to a full ride. Some schools do not offer merit scholarships, so check with the school your child is applying to. 

 

They might, however, offer scholarship for strictly non-academic purposes: Milton Academy’s Korean War Memorial Scholarship, for instance, sponsors a student from a developing region to “further his or her education at Milton Academy while enriching the school by his or her presence.”

 

Students can also apply for non-affiliated scholarship programs, which will award outside grants based on certain criteria. The recipients of these scholarships usually undergo rigorous admissions tests that not only measure academic skills, but also leadership potential, diversity, or special achievement. Below are a few major programs:

 

 

Need-based aid does not look at the record of the student, but rather their ability to pay the tuition and fees. Lately, many schools have been implementing a “need-aware” policy, meaning that they will try not to turn an application down simply because the family cannot pay.   It does not mean, however, that the available funds will be able to cover a family’s need. 

 

A small number of schools are 100% “need-blind,” and will not reject a student because of their inability to pay. Examples of such school are Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter and St. Paul’s School. Thanks to a tremendous amount of fundraising, the financial aid budgets at these schools are large enough to ensure that all accepted students, regardless of income, will be able to attend without having to take out loans. These loans will be supplemented by grants, which families will not have to pay back. In fact, these schools have pledged to cover the entire cost of attendance for low-income families:

 

 

Grants generally go to students who have demonstrated a need for them, generally families making less than $120,000 in income a year. The amount of aid can vary greatly, from as little as $500 to nearly the full ride. With the right amount of information, boarding school financial aid can be more generous than those of private colleges.

 

To determine a student’s need, the family will need to fill out and submit a few forms:

 

 

 The office will also look at other relevant factors, such as:

 

 

In these cases, you should send a letter explaining your circumstances, along with relevant documentation. Meeting the deadlines when applying for a grant is crucial, and it’s recommended that you submit your financial aid application along with your school application.

 

 

Most packages will need to be supplemented by loans, and several lenders will make loans to parents wishing to finance a boarding school education. When applying for aid, ask the school for a list of lenders they’ve previously worked with.

 

The boarding school experience provides children with an opportunity like none other: they gain independence, receive world-class educations, and learn the essential tools to building and leading a community. Going to boarding school can be a life-changing decision, and should be viewed as an investment. Now that a boarding school education is becoming more accessible than ever, the cost of attendance should be something that families are willing to discuss.