Financial Assistance FAQs

After your family has adjusted its assets and spending habits to appropriately prioritize private school education, consider applying for assistance if you feel that the cost of the published tuition is still out of reach. Please also review the available payment plans.

Contact Mary Yacob, Director of Financial Assistance, if you would like to provide a broad overview of your income and assets for an estimated eligibility status.

Families are expected to continue paying the same general level of tuition for the duration of enrollment. If there is a qualifying change in circumstances such as enrolling additional child(ren) at Catlin Gabel or another tuition-based school, new applications for or increases in financial assistance in subsequent years will be considered. Limited assistance may be available for families facing a temporary unexpected financial hardship.

Families who feel they are able to afford only the first year or two of a Catlin Gabel education should review their financial situation with the Financial Assistance Office prior to enrolling. Read more on our Affording Catlin Gabel page under 'Financial Assistance Eligibility and Policies.'

Deadlines follow your admission application deadlines. For families with multiple children applying, please submit your financial assistance application at your earliest admission deadline. The admission process and the financial assistance process happen simultaneously. Do not wait until after your admission decision to apply for financial assistance. 'Key Dates & Deadlines' are listed on our Apply for Financial Assistance page.

We will deliver admission and financial assistance decisions to admitted families on the same day allowing time to fully consider the admission offer and meet enrollment agreement deadlines. Need-based assistance is available for all grades.

Catlin Gabel admission committees and financial assistance committees are separate processes and comprised of different individuals. Initially, the admission committees determine whether an applicant meets the standards for admission without regard to the family’s need for financial assistance. However, with a comprehensive yet finite budget, financial need becomes a consideration when offers of admission are made.

Financial need is one of many considerations taken into account when selecting students for admission. Other factors include but are not limited to: available spots in each grade, gender ratio, enrollment goals, etc. Our advice to families in need of financial assistance is to apply to Catlin Gabel with confidence that their admission decision will be based on merit and if admitted, the school is committed to providing an appropriate level of funding to enable their child to attend.

No. Families must renew annually for need-based financial assistance. However, as long as a family’s financial profile remains similar from year-to-year and can be demonstrated through the application process, financial assistance will be renewed.

Every family is expected to contribute to the cost of their child(ren)’s education to the extent they are able. In order to serve the most families, the school endeavors to meet an average of 85% to 95% of a family's demonstrated need for tuition assistance.

So that students have access to the full Catlin Gabel experience, additional financial assistance is available for laptops (Upper School only), textbooks, learning center services, Middle & Upper School robotics, bus service, clubs and enrichment programs, outdoor education, and global education. Assistance is available for many of these programs whether or not a student is receiving tuition assistance.

There is also assistance for food services for those who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Financial need is determined based on the student's entire family's ability to pay tuition; therefore, Catlin Gabel requires both parents and their spouses or domestic partners, if any, to participate in the financial assistance application process. Each household must complete a separate, confidential Clarity Financial Aid application and provide required taxes and other documentation. Exceptions to this policy will be considered only for extraordinary circumstances and on a case-by-case basis. Neither the school nor Clarity will share confidential information between households.

If you review the financial assistance decision and feel that the tuition is still not affordable, you may appeal. Please send your request in writing to Mary Yacob, Director of Financial Assistance within three business days of receiving your financial assistance decision. Appeals must include new information that was not available to the committee during the initial review of your application.

IMPORTANT: Please include estimated dollar amounts. The committee will then review the appeal and decide if an adjustment can be made based on the information provided and available resources.

The committee safeguards the confidentiality of all financial information supplied by families. Documents are closely tracked and locked away daily. The school’s IT office ensures that our online and network systems are protected by the latest technology and standards available. Clarity Financial Aid also has many data security protocols in place which also includes a third party security firm conducting an annual security audit. This is a rigorous and expensive process that demonstrates their commitment to the importance of security.

For help with your application, please contact Clarity directly at
206-210-3752 or email support@claritytuition.com.

Representatives are available in English and Spanish.

Clarity Financial Aid Family Support 

• Clarity Family Application Guide
• Clarity Family Application Guide - SPANISH
• Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide
• Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide - SPANISH
• Visit help.clarityapp.com.

Clarity Financial Aid Family Information Night Webinars

• September 19, 6:30p.m. (Eastern)
• September 20, 7:00p.m. (Pacific)
• October 18, 6:30p.m. (Eastern)
• October 19, 7:00p.m. (Pacific)

Financial Assistance Elligibility & Policies

Please visit the Financial Assistance Elligibility & Policies page.