Tuition & Tuition Assistance

Vail Mountain School strongly believes that the cost of tuition should not deter families from considering an independent school education for their child. We dedicate significant resources to providing need-based tuition assistance to families from all cultural, racial, and socioeconomic groups.

 

No. Application for admission and application for tuition assistance are independent processes and students are admitted based solely on their ability to meet the criteria for admission.

Each year, families complete a tuition assistance application through FACTS Management. After reviewing an application, FACTS Management provides Vail Mountain School with a recommendation of financial need. Financial need is defined as the difference between the cost of education and a family’s contribution, which is determined by taking into account income, assets, family size, debt, expenses, and the earning potential of the financially responsible parents/guardians. Questions regarding family contribution computations may be directed to FACTS Management by calling their help line at 1-866-441-4637. However, families should call the VMS Business Office with any questions regarding the school’s tuition assistance decisions.

 

All requested tuition assistance documentation should be submitted to FACTS between November 1, 2023 and February 1, 2024 for priority consideration. We will continue to review completed tuition assistance applications after this date, and awards may be made at any time if funds remain available. The tuition assistance award will not be applied to the tuition bill until the FACTS application is complete and all payments due have been paid. 

Tuition assistance is not a part of the admission process, the binary decision of whether or not an applicant meets the criteria for acceptance. This process is completely needs-blind and admission committees have no knowledge of whether or not a family applies for assistance.  

The need for tuition assistance can affect the school’s ability to enroll a student. While VMS offers more than $1,500,000 dollars of need-based tuition assistance each year, demand always exceeds resources. The Tuition Assistance Committee must consider many factors including the overall budget, the needs of individual grades, and the enrollment goals of the school. Tuition assistance can be used to help in achieving diversity goals as well as bridging the cost of a VMS education for families that are experiencing temporary setbacks.

 

In cases where a student is offered enrollment, but the school is unable to meet the tuition assistance needs of a family, they may join the enrollment waitpool and re-apply for tuition assistance the following year. In cases where the school is able to offer adequate tuition assistance to meet their needs during a subsequent year, or a family’s financial situation changes, an offer of enrollment may be extended, space permitting and assuming that the student remains in good academic and disciplinary standing. To remain current in the waitpool, students are required to submit their most recent school records and a current teacher recommendation.

Families must reapply for tuition assistance for each year the student is enrolled at VMS. In many cases, a family’s award will remain similar from year to year. In some cases, a family’s financial circumstances may change over the course of the year which could be reflected in the new award.