Financing a Meridian Education

Tuition for the 2023–2024 school year is $31,830 (pre-K–2nd) and $32,090 (3rd-5th). The difference in tuition cost reflects the increased cost of field trips for the upper grades. Tuition for the 2024–2025 year will be announced by The Meridian School’s board of trustees in early February 2024.

Fees and expenses not covered by the cost of tuition include:

• Extended Day fees for 2023-2024. There are two enrollment options. Full-time is $4,880 per year and intermittent care is $33 per day. Visit the Extended Day page for more details. Tuition assistance recipients registered for full-time Extended Day qualify for fee assistance equal to the same percentage as the student’s tuition assistance award.
• After-school enrichment classes. Fees range from $180 to $370 per class. Tuition assistance recipients may enroll in three enrichment classes per year at a discounted rate (of an equal percentage to their family’s tuition assistance award).

We recognize that the cost of a Meridian education is a factor for every family regardless of income level. We also believe that each family bears the primary responsibility for financing their child’s education to the extent to which it is able. To help families plan their own finances, Meridian offers the following payment plans:

Payment Plan Options and Due Dates*

• 1 payment, due June 20
• 4 payments, due on the 20th of June, August, October, and January
• 10 payments, due on the 20th of each month from May to February

Please note: A non-refundable deposit of 5% of tuition for the upcoming academic year is due upon enrollment in March. Your family’s deposit amount will be adjusted to reflect your tuition assistance award, if applicable.

*Families admitted after June 20 will be offered payment plans with different due dates.

If a family needs greater help in financing their child’s education, Meridian also offers a tuition assistance program.  Individual circumstances vary and affect a family’s need. The number of children in a family, income, investments, debts, multiple households, medical expenses, siblings’ school tuition, and single-income households due to caring for non-school-aged children or aging family members are some of the many factors that affect a tuition assistance decision. Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions to see how specific circumstances may impact the calculation of your family’s award. The table below illustrates the average award by income level for students enrolled in the 2023-2024 school year.

The Meridian School is proud to use Clarity, a needs-based financial analysis system, to establish criteria for receiving tuition assistance, which includes a family’s assets, income, expenses, and debts. Actual award amounts are determined by Meridian, and based on need, available funds, and number of applicants for tuition assistance. Currently, 12% of Meridian’s annual budget is devoted to tuition assistance.

Applications for tuition assistance are available online directly through Clarity.

We strongly encourage families to begin the tuition assistance application process several weeks in advance of our deadline. To get started, please go to the Clarity website and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time.

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available as well as email support at support@clarityapp.com in both English and Spanish. Clarity can be contacted by phone at 206-210-3752. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish. Here are some resources that may prove helpful as you prepare for and begin the application:

• Frequently Asked Questions, complied by Meridian’s Tuition Assistance Committee
• Clarity Family Application Guide, step-by-step guide through the Clarity application
• A Path to Affordability: Understanding and Applying for Independent School Tuition Assistance, a webinar presented by Mission Enrollment, a national organization supporting independent schools with the tuition assistance process
• Guía de Aplicación Para Las Familias
• Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide, one-page walk-through and tips
• Video Introduction to Clarity for Families

Please note: Families must complete a new application each year.

Established by The Meridian School’s Board of Trustees, the Marilyn Easton Endowment Fund provides scholarships for underrepresented students of color demonstrating significant financial need. Scholarship recipients must qualify for awards of $16,045 (50% of the cost of annual tuition) or more.

The Endowment was established with the purpose of increasing access to a Meridian education and furthering our commitment to equity and inclusion by creating an economically and racially diverse school community.

The Endowment has exceeded $2 million, $500,000+ of which was directly contributed by members of Meridian’s donor community.

If you believe your child may qualify for an endowment scholarship, please indicate this when completing your tuition assistance application in the parent statement section.