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Is financial aid available at Nichols? |
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The school realizes that not all students can afford the entire cost of tuition, and is committed to making Nichols a "possible dream" for as many students as we can. Financial aid to families is in the form of tuition assistance (grants). At Nichols, families must demonstrate financial need to receive assistance. |
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Who qualifies for financial aid? |
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Approximately 30% of our families receive assistance through our financial aid program. Major factors in determining financial need include, but are not limited to, income, assets (including home equity, college funds, and investments), family size, and the number of children attending tuition-charging schools. The school expects parents, both custodial and non-custodial, to make every effort possible to meet the cost of their child's education. Parents should request financial assistance only after they have pursued other options.
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Does Nichols offer merit or athletic scholarships? |
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No, aid is awarded on a need-only basis. |
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What are named scholarships? |
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At Nichols School, we are committed to making an independent school education affordable by offering need-based financial aid to qualified applicants. From this group of candidates, awards are given to selected students who are designated as Named Scholars. Scholars are chosen for their intellectual pursuits, extracurricular achievements, and promise for future growth and exploration. For a complete list of named scholarship awards please click on the following link: http://www.nicholsschool.org/common/giving/endowment.asp?from=alumni and choose scholarship funds from the drop down box.
To be considered for a named scholarship for the 2010- 2011 academic year, students must first apply and be accepted into Nichols School. In addition, families must complete a financial aid application to determine eligibility. Please note: the financial aid application is due December 18, 2009.
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Will applying for financial aid affect my child's chances for admission? |
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Acceptance to either the middle or upper school is determined by the results of entrance examinations, personal interviews, and teacher recommendations, not on your family's financial picture. 30% of Nichols students receive financial aid. When the demand for financial aid exceeds the available budget, some students are placed on a financial aid wait list and others are offered admission without financial aid. A family's financial status is not public information, and does not impact a student's ability to achieve success here. Nichols does not discriminate in admissions or the administration of its financial aid because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or disability. |
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Will our financial aid change from year to year? |
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Families of students receiving financial aid must reapply every year. All financial aid awards are reviewed annually to ensure that recipients remain in good academic standing, contribute positively to the life of the school, and require financial assistance. If there is little change in a family's circumstances, one can expect that grants will be renewed at similar levels. |
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What about cases of divorce, separation, and single parents? |
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Nichols School will consider the income and assets of both biological parents in determining an award. If either parent has remarried, we also will consider the income and assets of stepparents, bearing in mind responsibilities that stepparents may have for their own biological children. |
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How do I apply for financial aid? |
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Nichols School is a member of the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) which assists independent schools in determining a family’s financial need. SSS uses a form called the Parent Financial Statement (PFS). This form is one piece of the application process. A PFS form can be obtained from Nichols or for immediate processing be completed online at sss.nais.org. For more SSS contact information, please see below:
Customer Service Phone: (800) 344-8328
Customer Service Email: sss@nais.org
Address to mail applications:
SSS by NAIS
PO Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368
In addition to the PFS form, parents must also submit a copy of tax returns and all supporting schedules, and
1099s for the current year directly to the Nichols Admissions Office.
Parents are encouraged to complete an application as early as possible. However, it is of the utmost importance that an application be completed by the third week in December as the availability of aid sharply decreases after that due date. Note, Nichols cannot grant a financial aid award until the student has been accepted and the financial aid application is complete.
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