A UCDS Education is an Investment for the Future

UCDS provides a quality education that will equip your child with a solid academic foundation and a lifelong love of learning.

Families with young children frequently think about the need to begin to save for a college education. Parents also recognize that elementary school provides many of the primary building blocks for later learning. For this reason, many families are finding that they cannot wait for the college years to invest in their child's education and want to begin now.

We recognize the importance of making a UCDS education affordable to everyone. This information is designed to help families consider the various financing options and financial aid programs offered by UCDS. While financing options are available to every UCDS family, financial aid grants are based on need.

UCDS seeks families of who value education and are committed to making this educational experience a priority. It is our hope that the information that follows will help families with their decision to apply to UCDS.

How Do I Apply for Financial Aid?

Complete and submit financial aid forms online at SSS by NAIS as soon as possible and prior to the due date. Please give complete and accurate information. If PFS applications are submitted late or with incomplete information, families may get only a fraction—or none—of the aid for which they might be eligible. You may also provide a narrative to UCDS with additional information you want to call to the attention of the Financial Aid Committee. The narrative can be included with your SSS by NAIS documents mailing or it can be sent directly to the UCDS Financial Aid Committee, c/o Betty R. Greene, at the school.

Online

1. Go to sss.nais.org.
2. Click on the prompt to begin your Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). You only have to complete one PFS even if you have several children applying to UCDS or to other SSS member schools.
3. You will be given a password that will allow you to return to your PFS at a later date before submitting it.
4. SSS will also indicate required backup documents that should be submitted to them by mail. Your documents will be handled with the utmost level of security. To read more about SSS’s document security, go to sss.nais.org.
5. Mail the required documents to: SSS by NAIS, Application Processing Center, P.O. Box 449, Randolph, MA 02368-0449. (For overnight mail, use this address: SSS by NAIS, Application Processing Center, 437 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021.)

   Note: If you apply for financial aid online, your information will be delivered more quickly to our school, allowing us to make a faster decision about your eligibility for financial aid.

By Mail

1. If you don’t already have a printed Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), go to the SSS website and download the form or call the UCDS Financial Aid office at 206-547-8237 x. 270 for a copy.
2. Complete the PFS and return it and all required backup documents to: SSS by NAIS, Application Processing Center, P.O. Box 449, Randolph, MA 02368-0449 USA. (For overnight mail, use this address: SSS by NAIS, Application Processing Center, 437 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021.)

The following must be submitted to SSS by NAIS no later than February 12, 2010:

• Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS)
• Signed copies of your family’s 2008 tax return
• 2008 W-2s and/or 1099s, if applicable
• 2009 W-2s and/or 1099s, if applicable
• IRS Form 4506-T (sign but do not date the form)
• The link to Form 4506-T is here.

The following must be submitted to SSS by NAIS as soon as possible:

• Signed copy of your 2009 Federal Tax Return, including all supporting schedules and forms.

Final decisions by the UCDS Financial Aid Committee will be based on the most recent tax year's data. If the current year's document is unavailable before February 12, 2010, a tentative award will be made based on the previous year's tax data. This award will be contingent upon receipt of the most recent tax year's data (due no later than April 15, 2010) and may fluctuate according to changes in your financial situation.

If you receive income from a trade or your own business, please complete a Business/Farm statement, to be submitted with your financial aid forms. If you are divorced, separated, or have never been married, both natural parents and any step parents will need to submit separate PFS forms.

Should you require assistance with the SSS forms, you may call them at (800) 344-8328 with any questions (Mon - Fri: 9am - 8pm EST. Sat: 9am - 4pm EST). Or, you can call Betty Greene in the UCDS Business Office (206-547-8237 x. 270).

Families new to UCDS will be notified of their aid status when they receive their enrollment contract. Current UCDS families will be notified by the end of April.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will my child's admission be affected if we apply for financial aid?

  Not at all. The admission process is separate from the financial aid process. A student must first be accepted by the Admission Committee before his or her financial aid application can be considered by the Financial Aid Committee. The Financial Aid Committee will then determine whether a student receives an award and how much will be granted for the academic year.

• What determines whether or not a student qualifies for financial aid?

  All financial aid awards are based on financial need. Financial aid awards are computed individually based on recommendations from SSS by NAIS. SSS uses a uniform methodology in which a family's unique financial circumstances are assessed in a consistent manner. Keep in mind, financial aid is not determined solely by income; other factors including assets, debts and additional children in tuition-charging schools, are also considered.

• Do all financial aid awards cover the full cost of tuition?

  No. The Financial Aid Committee awards scholarships and makes financial aid decisions based on each family's financial need. Some grants may provide up to the cost of a full tuition. The average financial aid award for the 2009-10 school year is equivalent to approximately 50% tuition.

• When will I hear about a financial aid decision?

  Financial aid applicants new to UCDS are notified of the status of their awards with their acceptance letter.

• After receiving an award, do I have to reapply for financial aid each year?

  Yes. All financial aid recipients need to reapply each year for financial aid. With that said, UCDS is committed to supporting current financial aid families who qualify for aid in subsequent years. The amount you can reasonably contribute toward meeting the cost of your child’s education may increase, decrease or remain the same depending on your financial circumstances in any given year.

• Some schools tend to have costs outside of tuition. Is there help with these costs?

  Yes. For families needing extra help, we have funds available to defray the full cost of field trips, our extended day program, and other additional costs. If UCDS awards aid for tuition, then required curricular charges will be supported at the same percentages.

• Is there a discount for siblings?

  We do not give discounts for siblings. However, families are welcome to apply for financial aid for each child.

• How do I apply for financial aid if I'm separated or divorced?

  For families that are divorced or separated, we request complete financial information from both natural parents. Both parents send separate PFS forms and all accompanying materials to UCDS. All adults (step-parents, significant others, partners, grandparents, etc.) contributing to household income are also required to disclose financial information. Failure to produce necessary documents can jeopardize the granting of awards.

  SSS by NAIS then makes recommendations for contribution for each household. The Committee takes into consideration the total contribution of all households and the number of adults contributing to each household. The award is then granted to the student not the parents. A letter of award is sent to each household. UCDS expects the parents to make their own payment.

• Do I have to pay back financial aid?

  No. Financial aid is used to offset the cost of a UCDS education. Aid is awarded by UCDS in the form of a grant, not a loan. Financial aid grants from UCDS do not need to be repaid.

• Do I have to pay my tuition all at once?

  No. There are several payment options for families at UCDS. These options are outlined when enrollment contracts are offered.