Tuition is determined annually by the Board of Trustees. The 2023-2024 school year full-day tuition is $36,835. Field trips, overnights, and special programs create added costs for a family over the course of the school year. Typically, the average additional cost totals around $800 per student. Financial assistance is available for these required curricular events.

Applying for tuition assistance and applying for admissions at UCDS are two separate processes. Admissions decisions are need-blind. This means tuition assistance applications are processed and reviewed solely by our Business Office.

How Do I Apply for Tuition Assistance?

Submit an online application with Clarity by February 16, 2024. If 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. 

To get started, go to Clarity and create an account. The Clarity application is mobile-friendly, typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and you are able to save your progress and return at any time.

For 2024-2025 school year applications, Clarity will automatically pull your 2022 tax return and any supporting documents. The below documents are also required and will need to be uploaded by families to the portal:

• 2023 W-2s and/or 1099s, as applicable
• 2023 1040 and supporting documents (when available)

You may also provide a narrative to UCDS with additional information you want to call to the attention of the Tuition Assistance Committee. The narrative can be included with your Clarity application or it can be sent directly to the UCDS Tuition Assistance Committee.

Tuition Assistance Decisions

Final decisions by the UCDS Tuition Assistance Committee will be based on the most recent tax year’s data. If the most recent year’s document is unavailable before February 16, 2024, a tentative award may 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 18, 2024) and may fluctuate according to changes in your financial situation.

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

Your Tuition Solution

Your Tuition Solution specializes in fixed-rate K-12 education loans. You may borrow up to the full tuition cost minus any tuition assistance you receive. The minimum you can borrow is $1,000. Terms are available from 24 to 84 months. Interest rates are as low as 3.99% APR.

For additional information, see the Your Tuition Solutions website.

Coverdell Education Savings Account

Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (“ESA”) provide a means for investing post-tax dollars into an investment fund that can be used to defray the costs of education for students in elementary and secondary schools, as well as for college. Distributions are tax-free, provided they comply with IRS regulations for the ESA. For additional information, see the IRS website. You should consult with your tax advisor regarding these financing tools.

Questions?

At UCDS, we strive to build personal connections with families, so please don’t hesitate to call or email. For any questions about tuition assistance at UCDS, your SSS application, or any financing options please contact Stephanie Cisakowski or Jill Eagle at tuitionassistance@ucds.org.