Financial Aid at The Putney School

Need-based Financial Aid

Any family applying to The Putney School that feels unable to afford the full educational cost is encouraged to apply for financial aid or discuss financing options with the director of financial aid. Putney recognizes that enrolling students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds requires a substantial financial commitment. Forty percent of Putney students receive some amount of financial aid totaling $1.3 million in awards.

Financial Aid Policies

Admission to The Putney School is based on the student’s qualifications; financial need is not a consideration. Once a candidate has been accepted for admission, the financial aid committee determines a grant amount for candidates who have completed all of the required forms by the deadline and have been deemed eligible to receive financial aid as a result of that process.

Students who enroll without financial aid during their first year should not expect to receive aid in following years. It is Putney’s expectation that families who begin paying full tuition will continue to do so. Families that feel they are able to afford only the first year at Putney should review their situation with the director of financial aid prior to enrolling. If there has been a significant change in your financial status, the financial aid committee will accept and review your application. However, a fixed budget means that our financial aid resources are limited and returning students applying for financial aid for the first time are generally given last priority in the financial aid process, after awards have been made to new students and returning students already receiving aid. Every year returning families are required to file a financial aid application, due January 1st. Families may expect to continue receiving funding at that level provided they continue to demonstrate similar need. Requests for adjustments to prior years’ grants, due to family hardship and change of income, must be submitted in writing to the director of financial aid by January 1st.

In the case of divorced, separated or never married parents, both parents are expected to contribute to their child’s education, to the extent that they are able. Both parents need to submit a financial application form and all requested information must be filed before the financial aid committee will consider an application. If either parent has remarried, we will also take into consideration the spouse’s contributions to the household along with any obligations to his or her own children. The Putney School follows the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) guiding principle that the responsibility of financing a private education rest primarily with the student’s family. Incomplete or delayed information may result in no financial aid, or a reduced offer.

International Students

Policy set by The Putney School Board of Trustees generally restricts financial aid to U.S. citizens and permanent residents holding a green card. Criteria used in the financial aid assessment process are based upon submitted U.S. tax forms and asset documentation making it difficult to utilize international documents.
MAIN BUILDING

Contact the Financial Aid Director to request an application at 802/387-6243.

The Putney School relies on the active participation of students who display intelligence, energy, curiosity, self-awareness, discipline, an openness to new experiences, and enthusiasm for the outdoors and the arts.

Putney recognizes that enrolling students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds requires a substantial financial commitment. Both the parents and the school invest in the special experience The Putney School provides and in the student's future. Although we strive to meet the need of all qualified applicants, each year we admit students to whom we are unable to offer financial assistance. Even so, approximately 38% of Putney students receive financial aid that makes it possible for them to attend Putney.

The Putney School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in its admission process or in the administration of its educational policies or scholarships.

Determining Need

The Putney School begins the financial aid allocation process by using the guidelines, formulas, and data provided to the school by Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS). The TADS report provides the first step in determining the reasonable contribution each family can make toward their child’s education. The TADS calculation is an estimate, which the financial aid committee uses as a guide in determining a financial aid package.

Financial aid at The Putney School is given in the form of grants. In evaluating a family’s ability to contribute toward their child’s education, their income, assets, liabilities, and other circumstances are taken into account. Grants are a gift—or scholarship—from The Putney School; there is no expectation of repayment. It is hoped that alumni will contribute to the school to allow future generations to experience the same opportunities.

Applying for Aid

Click here to apply at http://www.tuitionaid.com Families may apply for financial aid online using the TADS link. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the application please contact the school admission office. Information regarding financial aid may be requested at any time.

The deadline for applying for financial aid is January 1st of each year.

Admission decisions and financial aid packages are mailed from Putney on March 10th, along with the tuition and fees schedule for the following year. Families who did not meet the January 1st deadline may not be included in that initial allotment of financial aid.

A student may receive notification of acceptance to the school, but be placed on a financial aid waiting list if the family’s financial need is greater than funds available. Therefore, filing by the deadline is not always a guarantee that financial aid will be awarded. If aid funds become available later in the spring or summer months, they will be awarded to students on the financial aid waiting list.

It is the family’s responsibility to meet financial aid deadlines and to provide the Financial Aid Committee at The Putney School with all necessary information.

It often feels to parents that their financial situation is different from anyone else’s. Each family’s situation is indeed unique, and we try to accommodate those differences within the constraints of a tight financial aid budget in complex economic times. If you feel that there are circumstances of which we should be aware as we compute our financial aid package, please submit in writing (letter or e-mail) your concerns to the financial aid director.

When to invest: High School or College? Whether to spend limited financial resources on secondary school or college education can be a difficult choice for families. At the college level there is considerable financial aid and funding relief available. As all family and student assets, in addition to income, are taken into strict account when determining college-level financial aid packages, an argument can be made that overweighting the use of limited assets in favor of a strong preparatory education can prove to be a thoughtful, reasonable, and wise investment. With the reality that all independent schools, unsupported by tax dollars, are expensive for virtually every family, it is increasingly common for parents and grandparents to share the costs of financing a student’s education.


Financial Aid Checklist

1.     Right Away
        Notify the Admission Office of your intent to apply for financial aid
2.     By November 1st (Recommended)
    Contact Admission Office for Tuition Aid Data Service (TADS) Application Information
    Specify if there is more than one household
    Specify if any parent has held more than five jobs in one year (different form required)
3.     By January 1st
    Complete TADS Financial Aid application (online or paper version) and send it directly to TADS with required documentation
     a.     Signed Federal Income Tax return from previous year
     b.     All IRS 1040 schedules
     c.     W-2 forms
     d.     Tax documentation for Partnerships, Corporations and Sole Proprietorships



Contact the Financial Aid Office with your questions


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