Affordability

List of 9 frequently asked questions.

• What are the tuition and fees for the 2024-25 school year?

  Grades Junior K - 4: $19,680 - $33,120
  Grades 5 - 8: $34,390- $37,760
  Grades 9 - 12: $39,210 - $40,920

• What are the terms of the financial aid program?

  Every financial aid application will be reviewed on an individual basis. Our guidelines are meant to assist the Financial Aid Committee with the issuance of financial aid awards.  
  
  Continuing families currently receiving financial aid will be given first priority. Adherence to deadlines is essential because funds will be allocated to other families if materials have not been submitted by the deadline.
  
  Financial aid awards are for one year. Failure to comply with financial aid deadlines may disqualify a student from receiving aid. Misrepresentation, or failure to disclose completely all information on the Clarity Application, will result in the loss of financial aid.
  

• What forms are required when applying for financial aid?

  Families should fill out the Clarity Application and submit all tax documents and necessary schedules. The application should take approximately 30-45 minutes and the site is both desktop and mobile friendly.

• When is the deadline to apply and for document submission?

  New families should aim to complete their Clarity application by January 17, 2025. Upon submission, please do upload your 2023 federal tax return. Additionally, your 2024 federal tax information will be required by April 30, 2025.
  
  All current families should submit their Clarity application by November 29, 2024. Upon submission, please do upload your 2023 federal tax return if you have not already done so. Additionally, your 2024 federal tax information will be required by April 30, 2025.
  
  

• What are the considerations for special situations?

  1. Non-working custodial parents
     1. If a family has children over the age of six, it is expected that both parents will be gainfully employed. If your spouse chooses not to work, then an annual salary based upon a 40 hour per week position (or an income based on working potential as determined by the financial aid committee) will be added to the income calculations for evaluation. There are circumstances such as caring for a disabled or elderly parent, a preschool child or a child with a long term disability that may exempt a family from this policy.
  2. Unmarried couples and single parents
     1. The birth parent(s) and guardian(s) must report all income and assets.
  3. Divorced or separated parents
     1. University School policy for determining the financial need of students from separated or divorced families is derived from the underlying principle on which we base financial aid for all of our students—that is, parents should pay the educational expenses of their children to the extent they are able. 
     2. In situations where an applicant’s parents are separated or divorced, the term custodial parent is used for the parent with whom the applicant resides (or has resided with most often during the twelve months prior to the application). The other parent is referred to as the non-custodial parent. The application for financial assistance should be completed by the custodial parent.
     3. Non-custodial parents are also expected to complete a Clarity application form.

  1. We will consider the assets of both birth parents before making any award and cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses. If either 

     1. parent has remarried, the school will also consider the assets of the step-parent, always bearing in mind that the obligation of that step-parent is to his or her own birth children.
     2. It is the responsibility of both custodial parents to submit the appropriate financial information. It is the responsibility of the custodial parent to ask the non-custodial parent to complete the appropriate forms. If the requested information is not provided, the financial aid committee will not be able to review the application. Remarriage of either parent creates a new family unit with new relationships, but we believe that the natural (or adoptive) parents still have a responsibility for educational expenses despite any legal agreements to the contrary. Therefore, the income, expenses, assets and liabilities of the entire new family are considered pertinent to the birth (or adoptive) parents’ ability to contribute to the cost of education.
     3. In accordance with this policy, the custodial parent should file the Clarity application. The non-custodial parent must file the application, as well. Applicants awarded aid and accepting the offer of admission to US will be required to submit a signed copy of their IRS Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ with all schedules and attachments for each parent and submit the 4506 through the Clarity website.  
     4. We will consider waiving the requirement for submission of the Financial Application for Parents who are separated or divorced by the non-custodial parent under the following circumstances: 

        1. Information is provided which clearly indicates that the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown.
        2. Information is provided that the non-custodial parent has not provided support and has had no contact with the family for at least 5 years.

        *In either of the above-mentioned situations, supporting documentation clarifying the situation will be accepted from a doctor, lawyer or other such person with knowledge of the family’s circumstances. There may be other extenuating circumstances, which would warrant our waiving this requirement.

• What other fees do I need to pay?

  Tuition does not include:
  
  Books for grades 9-12 (books are purchased online; annual costs are approximately $500); before and after school care; optional field trips, such as international trips; some athletic equipment; optional sports fees; and optional club fees.
  
  Families can request financial support for anything not included in tuition by contacting the Director of Financial Aid.

• What about tuition refunds?

  University School requires all parents to participate in the Tuition Refund Plan. The cost of this insurance protection is included in the annual tuition and fees. For more information see the Tuition Refund Guide.

• What about athletic equipment?

  Uniforms (except shoes and other specialized equipment) are supplied to members of most varsity, junior varsity, and freshman interscholastic teams.
  Otherwise, students must provide their own athletic equipment, which may be purchased at the School’s athletic store and billed at less than retail cost.

• What are our transportation options?

  Many parents choose to drive their sons to school or carpool with other families. Bus service from some area public school districts is also available. In addition, US offers shuttle bus service between the Shaker and Hunting Valley campuses at no cost.
  
  

  Beginning in 2020-21, University School began a partnership with Laurel School and Hathaway Brown School to provide expanded transportation options for students throughout 33 Greater Cleveland communities. Families whose children attend more than one of these schools will be able to use one transportation service. This expanded transportation access will complement bus service offered from many public-school districts.
  
  

  Transportation to the three independent schools will be available to and from the following communities: Aurora, Avon, Avon Lake, Bainbridge Twp., Bath, Bay Village, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Chagrin Falls, Cleveland (Downtown), Cleveland (University Circle), Cleveland Heights, Concord Twp. (Lake County), Copley, Coventry, East Cleveland, Edgewater, Garfield Heights, Gates Mills, Hudson, Independence, Kirtland, Lakewood, Mentor, North Royalton, Richfield, Rocky River, Solon, Strongsville, Twinsburg, Westlake, Willoughby, and Willoughby Hills.

  
  Transportation options include both one-way and round-trip, as well as contracts for a full year or for individual trimester sessions. Pricing ranges from $930 to $3,100. 

  
  For more information about transportation options, routes, times and pick up locations, please see the Transportation webpage. For questions, please contact Transportation Coordinator Karrie Butorac at 216.831.1984 x7364.