Tuition & Financial Aid

List of 4 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 $6.8 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. To apply for financial aid, families must do the following:

   

  •Download and read our Financial Aid Policies and comply with our Financial Aid Procedures. Please note that our Procedures are currently being updated and will be posted on our website by August 31.

   

  •Complete a financial aid application via Clarity by the appropriate due date. The Clarity application for the 2024–2025 academic year is available on September 1, 2023. A separate application must be completed by each parent if divorced or separated and filing separate tax returns.

   

  In addition to the financial aid application, the Clarity Portal offers a number of online resources including webinars, FAQs, and a Spanish-version of the application. 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.

• Financial Aid Procedures

  It is essential for families to adhere to the following steps when applying for financial aid. Improper filing and/or neglect of the procedures and deadlines stated below will jeopardize an accurate and timely distribution of financial aid funds. It is critical that families meet the required deadlines if they wish to be considered for assistance.
  
  Applying for Financial Aid
  The Rivers School uses Clarity to process our financial aid applications for incoming families. Applications completed after the deadline cannot be guaranteed for consideration.
  Please note our deadlines below:
  • Returning families: December 15, 2023
  • New families: January 15, 2024
  
  To complete your financial aid application for the coming enrollment year, please follow the steps below.
  

  1. Please visit the Clarity website to begin your financial aid application.  The application is available beginning September 1st and is available in both English and Spanish.
  2. Create an account with a username and password that will allow you to return to your financial aid application before submitting it. Clarity requires Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) and you will
  be asked to set this up.
  3. Within the application you will sign and submit a Form 4506c to give Clarity permission to access your prior year tax returns.
  4. Upload your 2023 W-2 (if applicable) to Clarity as soon as you receive it from your employer.
  Awards cannot be finalized without your W-2.

  5. The Quick Reference Guide provides a useful overview of the steps to complete your financial aid application.  A more comprehensive guide can be accessed here.
  
  The application fee is $60. Fee waivers for the financial aid application are automatically offered to families who meet certain income guidelines.
  
  If you need assistance, there is in-app support available through the ‘Help’ button as well as email and phone support at http://support@claritytuition.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish.

  
  Parents/Guardians who are Divorced/Separated/Never Married
  
  All parents (including spouses, if remarried) are required to complete a Clarity financial aid application by the appropriate deadline. Please see our Financial Aid Policies for information about this.
  
  Please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at (339) 686-2253 or contact Anne Tuomey, Director of Financial Aid at a.tuomey@rivers.org or Kate Pistel, Associate Director of Admissions at k.pistel@rivers.org if you have any questions regarding these procedures.
  
  
  

• Tuition

  The 2023-2024 tuition fee of $60,560 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. 

• Ancillary Financial Aid Fund

  The Ancillary Financial Aid Fund is a source for Rivers student financial aid recipients who seek additional support for expenses they may incur above and beyond tuition. Examples of such expenses include, but are not limited to: student conferences, school sponsored trips, student activity program fees such as debate team or Model UN Club travel, athletic trips, academic, music and technology related expenses. There is an application process for families seeking this additional financial support.