Tuition & Tuition Assistance

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

• What is Tuition Assistance?

  Tuition Assistance is based on a family’s ability to pay. Trevor Day School considers financial need to be the difference between what it costs to attend Trevor and a family’s ability to pay tuition; financial aid is not a loan. Through its Tuition Assistance Program, the School supports students from families who are unable to pay the full tuition. Tuition Assistance awards are based on a percentage of tuition and not a set dollar amount, and awards are given after a family has completed the Tuition Assistance application process and has been deemed qualified. Because awards are based on a percentage of tuition, the amount a family pays each year is likely to increase proportionally to increases in tuition.

• How often does tuition increase and by how much? How will this increase impact our Tuition Assistance award?

  Historically, tuitions at New York City independent schools have increased each year by approximately 5% in order to cover increasing personnel and program costs. The Tuition Assistance Committee assumes that a family’s income also increases on an annual basis, and therefore the Tuition Assistance percentage a family receives generally remains the same from year to year.

• How do we know if we qualify for Tuition Assistance? Who is awarded Tuition Assistance? 

  Few families find it “easy” to pay independent school tuition. Most families adjust their spending priorities, maximize parents’ earnings, and carefully manage assets to do so. Providing firm guidelines to help a family decide whether to apply for Tuition Assistance is difficult because each family’s combination of circumstances is different. The Tuition Assistance Committee’s awards are based on many different factors. Among those factors considered are income, assets (including home equity, college funds and investments), family size, and the number of children attending tuition charging institutions. If a family thinks they will need tuition assistance, they must apply for tuition assistance when they submit their initial application.

• Should we delay applying for tuition assistance until after our child has been enrolled at Trevor?

  No. Tuition assistance will not be available to families if they have enrolled at Trevor without tuition assistance. Trevor assumes families applying for admission have honestly and carefully evaluated their own capacity to pay tuition. In addition, the School seriously considers each family’s financial picture when deciding on tuition assistance awards and assumes each family has provided an honest assessment of their ability to pay tuition.

• How does the Tuition Assistance Committee determine our tuition assistance award?

  Families submit a Clarity application online directly to Clarity. Separated and/or divorced parents must each submit a Clarity application.  Domestic partners, step-parents and non-custodial parents must also submit financial information. Clarity uses the submitted information to generate a Tuition Assistance Report that summarizes a family’s financial situation. Trevor’s Tuition Assistance Office uses this information, in addition to other factors, to determine a family’s tuition assistance award. Procedures for applying for tuition assistance are detailed in the section Procedures for Applying for Tuition Assistance.

• When are we notified of the Tuition Assistance Committee's decision?

  Families who have applied for tuition assistance will be notified of the Tuition Assistance Committee's decision at the same time families are notified of admission decisions.

• What does Trevor expect of families and students who receive tuition assistance?

  Trevor expects all families to contribute to their child’s educational expenses, in an amount determined through the Tuition Assistance Committee’s review of a family’s circumstances. The school also expects all students—whether or not they receive Tuition Assistance—to maintain the strong academic and personal qualities that led to their admission. All families receiving Tuition Assistance from Trevor must annually submit a Clarity application and the associated documentation of income and expenses. Finally, Trevor asks all students and families who receive Tuition Assistance to expect a rich and full Trevor educational experience equal to their community peers.

• What must we do to continue receiving tuition assistance?

  All families who receive tuition assistance must submit tuition assistance paperwork each year they are enrolled at Trevor in order to continue receiving tuition assistance.  Failure to file a Clarity application and supporting documentation to Clarity by the deadlines will result in a returning student's loss of his or her award.

• What if a spouse does not work?

  Trevor believes that families should bear the primary responsibility for financing their children’s education and therefore we expect that both parents will contribute financially. Each application is evaluated individually in recognition that each family has unique details defining their financial circumstances.