Sandy Spring Friends School Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition
At Sandy Spring Friends School, we strive to be affordable, diverse, culturally competent, and inclusive.
Our annual tuition is not based on what other independent schools charge, or on the notion of “what the market can bear.” We base our cost on what it takes for Sandy Spring Friends School to deliver on our promise. For the past ten years, our tuition has increased by less than 3% per annum. As a result, Sandy Spring Friends School is considerably less expensive than many independent schools in the Washington, D.C. area.
That is not to say that we are inexpensive. Recognizing that our tuition is not accessible to everyone, our financial aid policies strive to provide an opportunity for all families who seek a Friends education to come and explore our school.
SSFS Tuition: 2021-2022 |
|
|---|---|
| Preschool (Ages 3-4) | $19,250 |
| Kindergarten | $24,700 |
| Grades 1-5 | $29,500 |
| Grades 6-8 | $32,990* |
| Grades 9-12 (Day) | $36,500 |
| BOARDING 5-Day (Grades 9-12) | $53,500 |
| BOARDING 7-Day (Grades 9-12) | $66,300 |
*Please note that starting in 2021-2022, the Middle School tuition includes the cost of all required texts and PE uniforms; additionally, a School-owned Chromebook will be provided to all 6th and 7th grade students. See the letter from Middle School Head David Blake for more details.
School Fees
Fees for 2021-2022 are listed below. Current families: please note that starting in 2021-2022, the Middle School required texts will be issued to students at no cost, and a school-owned Chromebook will be provided to 6th and 7th grades.
2021-2022 Fees
Upper School Fees
| Range of expenses for books | $300-$650 |
| Range of expenses per sport (not including special-order gear) | $0-$115 (average ~$50) |
| Intersession Program (Experiential Learning Program - one to two weeks required annually in March) | Costs range from $0 to $3000, depending on the trip. Current financial aid recipients receive an additional Intersession trip stipend. |
Lower and Middle School Aftercare (Optional)
The Lower School Aftercare Program is run by Kids After Hours (KAH). See the KAH website's tuition calendar for costs for 2, 3, and 4 days/week). Drop-in rates for aftercare services are also available if needed. More information and online registration is available on the Kids After Hours website. Before care is also available on campus from 7:30-8:00 am at no additional cost.
The Middle School After Care Program is $2340 per student for the full academic school year from 3:40 pm (2:40 pm Wednesdays) through 6:30 pm. The fee may be prorated per trimester ($780/trimester), as well as individual days of the week. Drop-in rates for aftercare and full day care services are available if needed ($28/day).
Transportation (Optional)
Payment Plan Options
Payments to SSFS for Tuition and Fees are paid through Veracross Tuition Management (VC Pay). We offer three payment plans for paying tuition and the deposit with VC Pay.
The one-payment plan option requires the full tuition to be paid by June 20.
In the two-payment (standard) plan, a portion of tuition is due June 20 and the remainder is due December 20.
The alternative plan is 10 payments: 10% of tuition is due monthly April 20* through January 20.
Financial Aid
In keeping with the Quaker principles of equality and diversity, Sandy Spring Friends School seeks a student body that represents varied economic backgrounds. Our financial aid program and our various payment options strive to make attendance at Sandy Spring Friends School a reality for as many families as possible.
Receiving Financial Aid
Gross Household Income for families receiving Financial Aid.
Dawn Griffith
Director of Financial Aid & Enrollment Development
send email
Applying For Financial Aid
Prospective and current families seeking financial assistance are asked to submit an application through Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS). Please note that this service does not provide a source of funding – their role is to provide our Financial Aid Committee with an estimated family contribution (EFC) towards the tuition costs. The Financial Aid Committee uses this EFC as a tool in determining an appropriate grant allocation for each student while keeping within an overall financial aid budget established each year. Sandy Spring Friends School will make the final determination for financial assistance.
Schedule a Meeting: Intro to Financial Aid
This 15-minute meeting is for families who are new to SSFS and are interested in learning more about our financial aid process.
Financial Aid Application Deadlines
Current Families: December 1
New Families: January 15 (Financial Aid applications received after Jan. 15 will be reviewed on a funds-available basis.)
For more information about TADS and the Financial Aid Assessment process, please see the TADS Financial Aid Assessment & Your School PDF with an introduction and answers to frequently-asked questions on the TADS website.
