Financial Aid

The Mission Statement of Santa Catalina Upper School states that "the entire school community is enriched by a diversity in socioeconomic, religious, geographic, and cultural backgrounds." We recognize that many excellent students who would both benefit from a Santa Catalina School education and make outstanding contributions to our community may be unable to meet the financial obligations of attending Santa Catalina School. Through a generous financial aid program, Santa Catalina School has long demonstrated its commitment to admitting and enrolling the most qualified and capable students regardless of their families' financial resources.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition for 2007-2008 is $37,500 for resident students and $24,000 for day students. Additional expenses may include books, travel and spending money.  For the 2007-2008 school year, 26 percent of Santa Catalina Upper School students received financial aid awards totaling over $1.4 million. The average grant for resident students was $24,930, for day students, $13,904.

Financing a Santa Catalina School Education
Parents and students wishing to apply for financial aid should begin the process by completing and returning the Financial Aid Request Card included in the information packet sent by the Admission Office. Financial Aid materials will then be sent automatically. It is important to note that while the processes of applying for financial aid and applying for admission take place concurrently, requests for financial aid are held in strictest confidence and have no bearing on admission decisions.

In order to be considered for financial aid, families must file a Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) with the School and Students Service (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey. Once processed, SSS returns an objective, computerized evaluation of the family's discretionary income to Santa Catalina School. The Financial Aid Committee uses this information, along with the most recent tax information to determine financial need. Families submitting paperwork in a timely manner will receive notification of their award with their admission decision.

Families of current students who have received funding in the past are usually assured of continued aid. Reapplication for financial aid is required each year aid is sought. Families of current students who have not previously received aid may apply for and receive financial aid if they develop demonstrated need during their time at Santa Catalina School.

Payments and Loans
Families may participate in one of three payment plan options for tuition. Tuition may be paid in one or two installments, or by utilizing the Key Tuition Payment Plan over a period of ten months.

For those Upper School families who do not qualify for financial aid assistance though grants, Santa Catalina School offers a tuition loan program though the Clarence Manger and Audrey Cordero Plitt Trust. This program enables middle and upper-middle income families to borrow guaranteed amounts at a reasonable fixed interest rate every year their daughter is in the Upper School. The loan is repaid in regular monthly installments over an extended period of time.

The Merit Scholarship
While the overwhelming majority of the aid that Santa Catalina School awards is based upon a family's financial need, incoming freshmen and sophomore applicants are eligible for consideration for the Merit Scholarship Program. This one-time award is earned on the basis of academic merit and excellence and meets up to twenty percent of the cost of tuition. The Admission Committee will invite the top students in each year's pool of accepted students to participate in the Merit Scholarship Competition, in which each candidate will interview with a committee of faculty members and students and write two essays. The committee will then meet to determine the Merit Scholarship recipient or recipients. This year's Merit Scholarship Competition will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008.

If you have questions regarding financial aid at Santa Catalina School please contact Heather Daly , Director of Financial Aid, at (831)-655-9328.