Financial Aid

Submit Admission Application to SSFS, if applicable. Learn more about the admission application process.

Apply for need-based financial aid through School and Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands, which will use an industry-standard formula to determine your family’s estimated contribution (EFC) and share that number with the School.

Note: The SSFS school code is 200263.

• Current Family Deadline: Nov 15
• New (prospective) Family Deadline: Jan. 15

To begin your financial aid application, visit the SSS Family Portal.

SSS FAMILY PORTAL

Access resources related to the financial aid process, provided by SSS.

SSS RESOURCES

Submit required tax documents, including IRS Form 1040 and all schedules. 

A complete financial aid application must include each of the following:

• IRS Federal 1040 Form (2021)

• IRS Federal Schedules (2021)

• W-2 Forms (2021; unless self employed)

• Detailed Pay Stub/Pay Statement  (current family deadline: Oct. 2022; new family deadline: Dec. 2022)

• IRS Federal 1040 Form (2022) due April 15

• IRS Federal Schedules (2022) due April 15

Admission and financial aid decisions are communicated simultaneously through the enrollment contract.

There is no income level that automatically qualifies (or disqualifies) a family for financial aid. Families should complete the financial aid application process if they feel that the full cost of a Sandy Spring education is more than they can afford.  However, families should be aware that while Sandy Spring Friends School has a significant financial aid budget, we are not be able to provide financial aid grants to all qualified applicants, and therefore we must, at times, make need-aware admission decisions. Therefore, we encourage families to explore all options (including extended-family financial support) before applying for financial aid .

SSFS financial aid awards are based solely on need, which is defined as the difference between tuition and what a family can realistically contribute toward that cost. After a family completes the School and Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands application, SSS  processes the information the family provides to determine what the family can afford to pay for their child’s education. SSS’ industry-standard formula takes into account income, assets, debt, general living and medical expenses, family size, and the number of children in tuition-charging schools when estimating the contribution a family can make toward private school tuition. The School’s Financial Aid Committee then uses the SSS recommendation as a guide to determine the student’s financial aid award.

• School & Student Services (SSS) by Community Brands application
• IRS Federal 1040 Form (2021)
• IRS Federal Schedules (2021)
• W-2 Forms (2021; unless self employed)
• Detailed Pay Stub/Pay Statement  (current family deadline: Oct. 2022; new family deadline: Dec. 2022)
• IRS Federal 1040 Form (2022) due April 15
• IRS Federal Schedules (2022) due April 15

Families will receive written notification of the financial aid decision via enrollment contract. 

Yes, families who receive financial aid from Sandy Spring Friends School must reapply each year. The School is committed to supporting a student through graduation, provided a demonstrated need continues to exist. It is important to note that a family's award amount may change from year to year if the family's financial situation changes.

Yes! Payments to SSFS for tuition and fees are processed through VC Pay. We offer three payment plans to cover tuition and the deposit. 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, from April 20 through January 20. Payments in each plan are calculated after the 9% deposit is paid. There is a $125 annual fee for the monthly payment plan, charged in September. The deposit required at the time of enrollment is applied toward tuition due in either tuition plan. Please note that tuition refund insurance is required for the two-payment plan and the monthly payment plan.

Payment Plan and Fees FAQs