Tuition & Financial Aid

List of 6 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. To apply for financial aid, families must do the following:

   

  •Download and read our Financial Aid Policies and comply with our Financial Aid Procedures. 

   

  •Complete a financial aid application via Clarity by the appropriate due date. The Clarity application for the 2026–2027 academic year is available on September 1, 2025. 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, 2025
  • New families: January 15, 2026
  
  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 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 2025 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.  The more comprehensive Family Application Guide is also available. To view these guides in Spanish, click on the following links:
  Quick Reference Guide (Spanish)
  Family Application Guide (Spanish)
  
  The application fee is $65. 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 support@clarityapp.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 if you have any questions regarding these procedures.
  
  
  

• Financial Aid Policies

  The Rivers School seeks to enroll a diverse student body including families of varying socio-economic backgrounds. As such, we are committed to a financial aid program that makes a Rivers education available to qualified applicants. No applicant should be deterred from applying for admission due to financial constraints.
  
  In the current academic year, Rivers has awarded more than $7.6 million in financial assistance. Historically, awards have ranged from $1,000 through nearly the full cost of tuition. The Rivers School only awards financial aid on the basis of need. Rivers does not offer merit scholarships. Candidates are evaluated for financial aid based on demonstrated need as evidenced through the nationally standardized system for analysis offered by Clarity. Although many new and returning families qualify for financial aid, Rivers may not be able to offer assistance to all families.
  
  Financial aid award decisions are made by a standing committee comprised of the Director of Enrollment Management, the Director of Financial Aid; the Chief Financial Officer; and other selected representatives of the administration. Although this review is very complete and takes into consideration many factors, some families have special circumstances that they wish to report. In such a case, please contact the Office of Admission and Financial Aid to discuss your concerns.
  
  Please note the following important policies that govern distribution of our need-based financial aid:
  ● Financial aid applications, including all supporting documents, must be complete before an award can be granted. Please see our Financial Aid Procedures for a list of required forms and deadlines.
  ● Financial aid applications must be completed each and every year; there is no automatic renewal of a financial aid award.
  ● If you have school and/or college tuition costs for several children, we expect you to file for financial assistance from all institutions involved. We reserve the right to ask for supporting documentation to confirm enrollment at other schools. We expect siblings and parents to be responsible for their own graduate school tuitions.
  ● The Financial Aid Committee expects families to consider and use all possible resources including family income, family assets, student assets, loans, etc., before applying for financial aid. All assets will be considered regardless of income level.
  ● Privately awarded merit scholarships will be deducted from any financial aid award.
  ● Both parents are expected to contribute to the family income. We will impute a minimum wage income for non-working parents unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  ● Divorced and Separated Parents: The Financial Aid Committee will consider the net assets and earnings of both biological parents before making any award. Both the custodial and noncustodial parents must complete the financial aid application, including all required documentation. The Committee is not bound by the assertion that one parent disclaims responsibility for educational expenses. If the custodial parent has remarried, we will also consider the assets and income of the stepparent, always bearing in mind the obligations of the stepparent to his or her own biological children. We reserve the right to ask for additional documentation. Please reach out to the Director of Financial Aid if you have questions about this policy.
  
  For families of new students:
  ● Financial aid decisions will be emailed to the newly admitted student on March 10th along with their admission decision provided the financial aid application is complete. Late applications for financial aid will be handled as available funds allow.
  ● Please submit all W-2’s as soon as they are available (if applicable). No award can be made until 2025 W-2s are submitted.
  ● We may require additional documentation including your 2025 IRS federal income tax form and supporting schedules to finalize an award.
  
  For families of returning students:
  ● Preliminary financial aid decisions will be made beginning in February 2026 and families will be notified, on a rolling basis, as financial aid applications are completed and reviewed. Late applications for financial aid will be handled as available funds allow.
  ● Please submit all W-2’s as soon as they are available (if applicable). No award can be made until 2025 W-2s are submitted.
  ● We may require additional documentation including your 2025 IRS federal income tax form and supporting schedules to finalize an award.
  ● Current families who do not receive financial aid should not expect to receive financial assistance in the future unless there is a significant change in their financial situation. If a family feels that there is such a change, they should contact the Director of Financial Aid as soon as possible to discuss their situation before applying. Even if a family qualifies for financial assistance, there is no guarantee that funds will be available

• 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. 

• 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.

• 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.