Tuition Assistance

Central to the mission of St. Stephen’s School is a commitment to provide a quality education to qualified students regardless of their economic circumstances. 

To fulfill this commitment, the school has instituted a Tuition Assistance Program.  The Tuition Assistance Program is intended to ensure that a St. Stephen’s education remains accessible to those students who would otherwise be unable to pay the full cost of tuition. 

While every family is expected to contribute to the cost of tuition and fees and to support the community to the extent individual family circumstances permit, the school does not expect all families to pay tuition at the highest level.  St. Stephens will continue to be committed to keep the school accessible to families with at wide range of economic backgrounds.

St. Stephens follows the policy of the National Association of Independent Schools using School and Student Services for Financial Aid of Princeton, New Jersey to evaluate its Tuition Assistance applications.  This service assures both discretion and objectivity so important to the process. 

The decision to offer admission to a prospective student is a separate function from the Tuition Assistance process.  Families should not be concerned that a request for Tuition Assistance will impact the admission decision – it will not. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. Mail the Parents Financial Statement (PFS) to the School and Student Services for Financial Aid in Princeton, N.J. by February 8 along with your processing payment.  Our school code is #4290.  Information required on the PFS form is the same as the information your report for Federal Income Tax purposes.  However, your 2007 Federal Tax return does not need to be finalized for you to complete the PFS; you may use estimated figures.
2. Submit a copy of the PFS and a copy of your 2007 tax form and all schedules to St. Stephen’s by March 10. 
3. Tuition assistance awards are made in late March and mailed with contracts to families.