Are You Eligible for Variable Tuition?
The complex formula used to calculate the exact variable tuition level considers many factors that affect a family's ability to pay. It is impossible for our school, or for a family, to determine the level of tuition for which they qualify unless the entire Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) is completed. Families can begin to complete the PFS in late October. The online form can be found at School and Student Services.
An application for Variable Tuition does not affect a student's admission decision. The Variable Tuition Committee calculates a family's ability to afford tuition and operates separately from the admissions process.
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to offer Variable Tuition to every student who qualifies for both admission and a reduced tuition. A student may be admitted to the school but placed in a waiting pool for Variable Tuition.
Deadlines for applying for Variable Tuition are early. The complete 2022 Parent Financial Statement must be submitted to School and Student Services (SSS) by NAIS by December 14, 2022 for returning students and February 1, 2023 for new students. Your 2022 W-2s will be required no later than February 1, 2023 to be followed by your 2022 tax returns and schedules by May 1, 2023. Self-employed people need to provide business expense information. Variable Tuition award information is sent with the admissions decision letters.
Defining the Variable Tuition Range
As you can see from the figure above, while the amount of Variable Tuition awarded to individual families is tied to family income, there is variability based upon other measures and circumstances.
Income means pre-tax earnings from wages and business investments. The formula that determines a family's ability to pay considers different expenses than the IRS uses to calculate taxable income. Therefore, all tax schedules must be submitted. If parents/guardians reside in separate households, the income and expenses of both households are considered in the calculation.
View our Case Studies to see some more specific examples.
