Tuition & Financial Aid

List of 5 items.

• Financial Aid Overview

  All financial aid is need-based; The Rivers School does not offer any merit scholarships. For the current academic year, Rivers has awarded more than $7.6 million in need-based tuition assistance. Historically, awards have ranged from $1,000 through nearly the full cost of tuition. No applicant should be deterred from applying for admission due to financial constraints.
   
  Our Financial Aid application deadline is January 15 for families applying to Rivers for the first time. The deadline for current Rivers families is December 15. To be considered for financial assistance, it is very important that you complete your application and submit all documentation by our deadline.
   

  If at any time you have questions about financial aid or the financial aid application process, please be sure to call the Office of Admission and Financial Aid at 339.686.2253 or contact Director of Financial Aid Anne Tuomey at a.tuomey@rivers.org.

• How To Apply for Financial Aid

  1. Visit the Clarity website to begin your financial aid application.  All parents and guardians including those who are divorced, separated, or never married, are required to complete a
  Clarity financial aid application by the appropriate deadline.
  
  2. Create an account with a username and password that will allow you to return to your financial aid application before submitting it. Within the application you will sign and submit a Form 4506c to give Clarity permission to access your 2024 tax return.
  
  3. Upload your 2025 W-2 (if applicable) to Clarity as soon as you receive it from your employer in January. Awards cannot be finalized without your W-2.
  
  4. A Clarity Quick Reference Guide and comprehensive Family Application Guide are available and provide a useful overview of the steps to complete your financial aid application. The guides are available in both English and Spanish.

• Tuition

  The 2025-2026 tuition fee of $66,140 includes lunch, laboratory fees, an iPad, and most field trip transportation. It does not include books and art supplies (average $500), transportation to and from school, tutoring, special testing, private or group lessons at The Rivers School Conservatory, ski team fees, optional school supplies, athletic store items, and other occasional charges.
  
  

  Tuition may be paid in two payments by June 15 and December 1 or through a flexible, monthly payment plan, available through Smart Tuition.  Tuition refund insurance is recommended for all families. 

• Support Beyond Tuition

  Through the Ancillary Financial Aid program, Rivers provides additional resources to families receiving tuition assistance so that financial circumstances do not limit access to the full student experience. Eligible expenses may include academic materials, technology, athletics equipment, private music instruction, student travel, and other school-related opportunities. The program reflects Rivers’ commitment to equity and inclusion by extending support beyond tuition, ensuring that all students can engage fully in the academic, artistic, and extracurricular life of the school.

• Rivers School Financial Aid FAQs

  1. Does Rivers offer merit scholarships or only need-based aid?
  Rivers provides financial aid based solely on demonstrated financial need. We do not offer merit-based scholarships of any kind.
  
  

  2. How do I apply for financial aid?
  Families must complete an application through Clarity, the nationally standardized system for analysis, and submit all required forms (such as W-2s and tax returns) by the stated deadlines.
  
  

  3. Do I need to reapply for financial aid each year?
  Yes. Financial aid awards are not automatically renewed. Families must submit a complete application each year in order to be considered for assistance.
  
  

  4. How are financial aid decisions made?
  A standing Financial Aid Committee—made up of the Director of Enrollment Management, Director of Financial Aid, Chief Financial Officer, and other administrators—reviews each application and makes award decisions.
  
  

  5. How are families with divorced or separated parents considered?
  Rivers requires financial information from both biological parents. Stepparent income and assets may also be considered, keeping in mind their obligations to their own children.
  
  

  6. What resources are families expected to use before requesting aid?
  Families are expected to consider all available resources—income, family assets, and student savings—before applying. Privately awarded merit scholarships will be deducted from any Rivers financial aid award.
  
  

  7. Are both parents expected to contribute financially?
  Yes. Both parents are expected to contribute to the family’s educational expenses. If one parent does not work, Rivers may impute a minimum wage income unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  
  

  8. Do you consider tuition expenses for siblings in other schools or colleges?
  Yes. Rivers expects families with children in other tuition-charging schools or colleges to apply for aid at each institution. We may request documentation to confirm enrollment. Graduate school tuition for siblings or parents is not considered.
  
  

  9. What if my family’s financial situation changes after enrollment?
  Current families who have not previously received aid should not expect an award unless there is a significant change in financial circumstances. Families should contact the Director of Financial Aid to discuss their situation.
  
  

  10. What if one parent chooses not to participate in the financial aid process?
  Rivers still requires financial information from both biological parents, regardless of custody arrangements. The Committee is not bound by a parent’s refusal to contribute. If needed, stepparent information will also be considered.  Please contact the Director of Financial Aid to discuss your personal situation.
  
  

  11. Is there a fee for applying for financial aid through Clarity?
  Yes. The application fee for Clarity is $65.  Fee waivers for the financial aid application are automatically offered to families who meet certain income guidelines.   
  
  

  12. When will we learn if our financial aid application was successful?

  • New families: Aid decisions are shared with admission decisions on March 10, provided the application is complete.
  • Returning families: Preliminary decisions begin in February, with notifications sent on a rolling basis.