Costs & Financial Aid

List of 4 items.

• Tuition & Fees

  TUITION AND FEES

  The Comprehensive Fee for the 2020-21 School year is $63,200. This amount includes tuition, room and board, basic health center expenses, and the cost of most school-sponsored academic, athletic, and recreational activities. There are no additional charges for technology, course-related supplies and equipment, outdoor education, local special events and weekend activities, and all meals provided daily through the dining hall. These expenses, at some schools, could total as much as $3,500 per year. The purchase of course-specific books – and a personal computing device if one is not already owned – will be the largest, and for most students the only, cost not included in tuition.

   

  Personal Expenses associated with attending Episcopal vary from student to student. The following provides an estimate of the major items:

  • Laptop Computer – a one-time expense of approximately $1,400 - $1,900, depending on the model. Students are required to have a laptop computer and may bring a laptop of their choosing.
  • Textbooks and Academic Materials – about $700 annually
  • Private Music Instruction – $1,200 - $1,600 annually
  • Varsity Athletic Team Trips/Camps - $500 - $1,000 annually
  • Monthly Allowance – about $200 monthly for laundry, local transportation, and entertainment
  • Other Expenses – clothing, travel to and from Alexandria, and family weekends are other items for consideration

• Financial Aid & Application Deadlines

  FINANCIAL AID

  Episcopal seeks applications from talented and motivated students, regardless of family financial resources. Because every family cannot afford this investment, the School makes financial assistance available to help close the gap between the costs of attending EHS and a family’s ability to pay, as determined by needs methodology used by the School and Student Services by NAIS.

  
  To make the School affordable to more families, Episcopal provides several financial options. EHS is committed to socio-economic diversity, which brings a variety of perspectives and enables students to debate, discover, and expand upon their knowledge of the world. Achieving this greater understanding is critical to preparing students to succeed in all aspects of life. We urge families to apply even if there is concern over the ability to pay tuition.

  
  Awards to qualified students are made in the form of grants and are based upon a demonstration of financial need, coupled with a student’s individual merit. In addition to financial aid, two payment schedules are available to accommodate family budgeting and planning needs.

  
  While Episcopal High School subscribes to the belief of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) that the primary responsibility for funding the cost of education resides with the family, we also understand that it is becoming increasingly difficult for a large percentage of families to afford independent school tuition. Episcopal urges talented and motivated students to apply for admission, even if there is a concern over the ability to pay tuition, and encourages parents to request application forms and apply for financial assistance.

  
  In 2020-21, approximately 34 percent of the student body will receive financial assistance. Approximately $7.5 million in aid is awarded annually, with the average grant equaling about $49,000. The Financial Aid Committee keeps all financial information confidential. Financial aid is available to students of any race, color, gender, creed, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin.

   

  APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE

  Episcopal works with the School and Student Services by NAIS. This organization provides Episcopal with a confidential statement of need based upon an application for financial aid completed by the parent called the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS).

  
  The deadlines for submitting the PFS and supporting materials to the SSS are listed below. Timeliness in meeting these deadlines is critical for consideration to receive financial aid. The PFS must be completed online. Supporting materials may be uploaded or submitted by mail. The cover sheet and signed copies of the required documents should be sent by US Mail to:
  Community Brands
  School and Student Services
  PO Box 489
  Southampton, PA 18966
  
  or by overnight Federal Express, UPS, and Postal SErvices Express Mail to:
  School and Student Services
  458 Pike Road
  Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006

  
  ALL APPLICANTS
  Due by January 31, 2021
  

  • PFS must be completed and submitted to the SSS by NAIS (with Episcopal as a designated recipient of the evaluation - Episcopal's code is 3022). To complete your online application. please click here.

  NEW APPLICANTS
  Due by February 28, 2021

  New applicants must submit signed copies of the following required documents:

  • IRS Form 1040 for 2020
  • All IRS Schedules for 2020
  • W-2 and/or 1099 forms for 2020

  For students whose parents are divorced or separated, both parents are required to submit signed copies of the required documentation.
  
  RETURNING APPLICANTS
  Due by March 13, 2021
  Returning applicants must submit signed copies of the following required documents:
  

  • IRS Form 1040 for 2020
  • All IRS Schedules for 2020
  • W-2 and/or 1099 forms for 2020

  For students whose parents are divorced or separated, both parents are required to submit signed copies of the required documentation.

   

  GRANT DETERMINATION AND NOTIFICATION

  The Financial Aid Committee is chaired by the Financial Aid Director and ultimately reports to the Admissions Director. Other members of the committee include the Chief Financial Officer, an Admissions Officer, and at least one member of the teaching faculty.

  
  Both returning students and admissions candidates are notified of financial aid decisions in March. The financial aid decision is communicated to parents along with the invitation for enrollment. Parents are required to reply within 30 days.

   

  ANNUAL RENEWAL

  Tuition grants are made for one year. Parents must complete a PFS each year and send it to the SSS in accordance with the application schedule outlined above. Unless there is a significant change in annual income or available assets, parents can normally expect the level of assistance to be continued from year to year.

• Payment Schedule (2020-21)

  PAYMENT SCHEDULE

  An Enrollment Deposit of $6,300 is required when a student enrolls for the year. This amount is credited to the first comprehensive fee installment.

  
  A Contingency Deposit of $600 is required of all new students. This amount is refunded or credited when a student graduates or leaves.

  
  The Comprehensive Fee is payable in either two or six installments. You will be asked to select your preferred payment plan when you return your enrollment contract.

  
  Two-Installment Plan 
  Due on July 25: 75% of the Comprehensive Fee
  Due on November 25: 25% of the Comprehensive Fee

  
  Six-Installment Plan 
  Due on July 25: 30% of the Comprehensive Fee
  Due on the 25th of each month, August through December: 14% of the Comprehensive Fee

  
  Deposit fees and installments for students receiving financial assistance are adjusted accordingly.

  
  To assist parents with budgeting, Episcopal provides information about an independent loan service at the time of enrollment. Parents may also wish to participate in the TuitionNet Insurance Program, which insures payment of the comprehensive fee should the student need to withdraw from Episcopal for any reason during the year.

• Scholarships at EHS

  Only a small fraction of the U.S. population can afford a boarding school experience. Many, including alumni families, never bother to apply, thinking the Episcopal experience is simply out of reach. In recent years, Episcopal has made affordability a key focus. The 2018 strategic plan aims to expand the breadth of families for whom The High School is accessible and affordable by increasing scholarships and other endowed funds for financial aid resources. With gifts and commitments of nearly $18 million to this effort, the financial aid budget has increased by 13% since 2018. Our goal is to support 40-45% of our students with financial aid by the end of this strategic planning cycle.
  
  With more than 100 endowed scholarship funds, Episcopal uses this robust offering to bring the cost of this life-changing experiential education into reach for interested families. Read a full list of scholarships.
  
  

  Featured Scholarships

  A major gift from Elizabeth and Lee Ainslie ’82 P’14 ’17 in 2018 moved EHS forward in this endeavor by endowing two bold need-based scholarship funds. Each covers the full need of one student in each class, every year, in perpetuity.
  
  

  The Alumni Legacy Scholars is available each year for extended family members of alumni and current students who might not otherwise be able to afford the experience of following in the footsteps of a family member.

  
  The Reginald W. Burns ’72 Scholarship program supports students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who cannot afford the full cost of tuition.