Tuition and Financial Aid at Concord Academy

 

 

Concord Academy is committed to being a diverse and inclusive community that represents a broad range of economic backgrounds.

No student should be deterred from applying for admission due to financial constraints. Families who feel they need financial assistance to attend the school are encouraged to apply for financial aid. CA is committed to awarding financial aid that meets 100% of a student’s computed financial need.

The 2022–23 budget for Concord Academy’s financial aid program is $5.3 million and represents 17% of the school’s operating budget. Currently, financial aid grants are used to support 105 new and continuing families representing approximately 26% of the student body. Grants range from $1,000 to the full tuition. Financial aid funds are also available for aid recipients to help defray the cost of additional expenses including books, travel, athletic equipment, computers, school trips, music lessons, tutoring, and the college application process.

 

Tuition for 2023-2024

Boarding: $74,690
Day: $59,820

The enrollment/registration deposit is credited to the tuition balance.
The cost of books, studio fees, and other miscellaneous additional expenses typically total about $1,100. 

Email  to learn more about tuition & expenses.

Additional financial aid benefits:

Students who receive a financial aid grant also have access to a variety of resources designed to make their experience as equitable, rewarding, and productive as possible. Those resources include:

Bookstore/Activities Account Grant

A Bookstore/Activities Account Grant of $1,150 (for day students) or $1,550 (for boarding students) is offered to help defray the cost of additional expenses such as books, class fees, standardized testing, class rings, athletic equipment, student activities and entertainment, fundraisers, and house snacks. This grant increases each year.

Purchasing a computer or tablet

Students who wish to purchase their own computer or tablet for school use will be eligible to receive a one-time grant from the financial aid fund to help defray this cost. The reimbursement is up to $900 and is related to the percentage of the tuition grant.

School Supplies

Various school supplies are available during the first school days of each semester  for financial aid students.  There is no charge for these supplies. 

Travel Opportunities

Financial aid is available for one trip during a student’s career at CA, such as a service trip in June or a language trip in March. These trips typically have a minimum family contribution of $200-$500.

Miscellaneous

All students receiving financial aid have access to the following benefits at the same percentage as their tuition grant: music lessons, tuition refund insurance, and academic tutoring and neuropsychological testing approved by the Academic Dean.

Supplemental Benefits

Students who receive a financial aid grant covering 96% or more of tuition receive three additional benefits:  a monthly allowance of $80, travel home for major school breaks (Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break), and a family travel/lodging reimbursement to attend the student’s first year Family Visit Weekend and the senior year chapel talk.

Applying for Financial Aid

 

Concord Academy uses School and Student Services (SSS) to process our financial aid applications for incoming families. To complete your financial aid application for the coming enrollment year, please follow these steps below.

 

Applying for Financial Aid Online

  1. Please visit the SSS website. 
  2. Click on the prompt to begin your Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). Each parent household must complete one PFS. Our school code is: 2560.
  3. You will be given a username and password that will allow you to return to your PFS at a later date before submitting it. Your information will be secure.

In addition to the PFS, we require that you upload the following documents to SSS to complete your financial aid application:

  • Previous year signed federal tax return with all supporting schedules.
  • Previous year W-2s from all working parents (or IRS Form 1099 or a Business/Farm Statement if self-employed)

Fee waivers for the PFS are automatically offered to families who meet certain income guidelines.

For questions about fee waivers or completing the PFS online, call SSS at (800) 344-8328.

Parents/Guardians who are Divorced/Separated/Never Married

All parents (including spouses, if remarried) are required to complete a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) by January 15. Applications completed after this deadline cannot be guaranteed consideration.

Please contact us if you would like to schedule a visit or to speak with a member of the Admissions and Financial Aid Office.


166 Main Street
Concord, MA 01742
Phone: (978) 402-2250
Fax: (978) 402-2345
admissions@concordacademy.org

We will be offering Financial Aid Information Sessions throughout the fall.  Those webinars will be posted to our events page when they are available.

Financial Aid Frequently Asked Questions

 

We have tried to provide helpful answers below to the most frequently asked questions about financial aid. If you have more questions, we would be happy to answer them. You can also watch this video on financial aid at CA to learn more.

 

How is financial need determined?

School & Student Services (SSS) is a national financial aid calculation service operated by Community Brands. Their methodology looks at family income, expenses, assets, and debts, as well as additional factors including family size and the number of children in the family attending tuition-charging schools, to determine a level of financial need. The Financial Aid Committee at Concord Academy will use the SSS report in conjunction with Concord Academy’s financial aid policies to determine what a family may be asked to contribute to educational expenses.

What if the fees associated with the PFS are a hardship for my family?

Fee waivers for the PFS are available for families who meet certain income guidelines. For more information about fee waivers, contact SSS at (800) 344-8328.

Is the financial aid in the form of a grant or a loan?

All financial aid awards are grants and do not require repayment. Grants range from $1,000 to the full cost of tuition.

How are financial aid applications handled for families with divorced or separated parents or parents who have never been married?

All parents retain the obligation to contribute what they can afford to the education of their children, regardless of any divorce or other agreements stating otherwise. In most cases, the Financial Aid Committee will make an award only after considering the financial resources of all parents. Therefore, if both parents are involved in the child’s life, Concord Academy requires that each parental household complete the full financial aid application process. If a parent has no contact with the child, the custodial parent may submit a statement from a third party aware of the situation in a professional capacity (such as a school official or a member of the clergy), in lieu of financial aid application forms from the absent parent. Please contact the director of financial aid, John McGarry, with any questions or concerns about this issue at (978) 402-2253 or email john_mcgarry@concordacademy.org.

Will a request for financial aid affect my child's chances for admission?

Concord Academy offers a comprehensive, need-based financial aid program. Each year, demand for financial aid exceeds the supply. If we are unable to offer financial assistance to an admissible student, that student may be placed in the admissions wait pool. So yes, applying for financial aid will increase the selectivity of the admissions process.

When will we be notified if we have received an award?

If a family’s financial aid application is received by the Financial Aid Office by the January 15 deadline, a financial aid award letter will be mailed with the admissions acceptance letter on March 10. 

Will my financial aid application be confidential?

Yes. Requests for financial aid and all financial information submitted are kept in strict confidence. Only the Financial Aid Office has access to the financial forms you submit and only the members of the Financial Aid Committee will be aware that you have applied for financial aid.

Does CA offer any academic, artistic, athletic, or merit scholarships?

CA does not offer any merit-based scholarships. All financial aid is awarded based on a family’s demonstrated financial need.

Is financial aid available to international students?

No. The financial need assessment used by Concord Academy is based on the United States income taxation and cost of living systems. Concord Academy is only able to consider applicants for financial aid if the applicant is a US citizen or permanent resident holding a green card and if all parents file US income taxes.

What if one parent in our household is not working?

CA may impute income for a non working parent when reviewing the financial aid application.  We welcome comments in the PFS to learn more about the circumstances of the non-working parent.

Are students receiving financial aid required to work on campus or expected to maintain certain performance standards?

Financial aid awards consist primarily of grants for which no repayment or ‘work/study’ arrangement is required. CA expects the same level of commitment and participation from all of its students, regardless of their financial situation. 

If we receive financial aid this year, can we count on receiving it each subsequent year?

Financial aid will be continued at the same level through graduation, provided a family’s need does not change. If a family’s need increases, we will make every effort to meet that need. However, we can only guarantee the level of aid awarded in the previous year. Because awards are evaluated annually, a renewal application must be filed each year.

If we didn't receive financial aid this year, can we apply for it next year?

The Financial Aid Committee will consider applications from returning CA families who have not received financial aid in the past. However, it is unlikely that we will be able to meet the financial need of these families as no pre-existing budget exists to fund these situations. It is our expectation that families who begin at Concord Academy paying the full tuition will continue to do so. Full pay families who suffer a job loss or other unexpected financial hardship are encouraged to contact the Director of Financial Aid directly.

Can we appeal our financial aid award?

Families who feel they are unable to afford the net tuition outlined in the financial aid award agreement may request a second review of their financial aid application. In order to initiate the appeals process, the parent should call the Financial Aid Office and prepare the following:
• a detailed monthly or annual budget showing all income and expenses
• a statement of changes, if any, in financial circumstances since the financial statement was completed
• detailed explanations, if any, of unusual expenses and/or debts that were not fully explained on the original financial aid application