How to afford the private school of your dreams
It’s a simple fact—not everyone can afford to pay full-price tuition for private schools. However, that doesn’t mean that a high-quality education is impossible to attain. Before you rule out sending your child to a competitive school, consider these tuition tips:
Scholarships
The most convenient option is to receive financial aid from the school itself. Research whether the schools you’re applying to offer scholarships, as some schools routinely give full scholarships to high-achieving students. However, make sure to apply for these scholarships early—many applications are due months before you’ll hear back about admissions.
There are also nationwide scholarship programs for eligible students, such as A Better Chance for students of color, the Jack Kent Cook Foundation Young Scholars Program for students with financial need, and the Children’s Scholarship Fund for low-income students grades K-8.
State Voucher Programs
Some states have voucher programs that provide funding to low-income or special-needs students to attend private schools. Check here to see whether your family is eligible.
Public Exam Schools & Charter Schools
The best schools aren’t always private schools—there are many great charter schools and public exam schools that not only rival a private education in quality, but also don’t charge tuition.
However, because these schools are free, they can often be more competitive and difficult to get into. For example, Boston Latin School requires ISEE scores in the 90th percentile for a good chance of acceptance.
Negotiable Tuition Rates
It is a little-known fact that private school tuition rates aren’t always set in stone. Communicate with schools to see if there is any flexibility in tuition rates. Many private schools offer plans that allow parents to pay tuition in monthly installments, or may even lower tuition rates if paying in full isn’t feasible.
Good luck making your dream school affordable! We’re here to ensure the admissions tests don’t stand in your way.
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Originally published on October 26, 2016. Updated on January 30, 2026.
