Tuition & Financial Aid
Committed to Excellence & Access
The Colorado Springs School (CSS) uses Clarity as our system for calculating need-based Financial Aid.
Our goal is to make the Financial Aid application process as easy as possible for your family. The Financial Aid program is designed to make a CSS education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Sibling and Alumni Discounts
External Scholarship Opportunities
How to Apply for Financial Aid
Learn more about our Financial Aid Program
Clarity Applications Open Nov 1 (due January 15)
We are excited to announce that The Colorado Springs School (CSS) has chosen Clarity as our need-based Financial Aid program. Please apply for financial aid by February 1.
The program is designed to make a CSS education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. The Colorado Springs School is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.
To get started, please go to the Clarity Application 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. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application to review all documents.
If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
- 2024-25 Family Application Guide (English version)
- 2024-25 Family Application Guide (Spanish version)
- How to Apply - Quick Reference Guide (English version)
- How to Apply - Quick Reference Guide (Spanish version)
Click here to apply:
Sibling and Alumni Discounts
Please connect directly with Admission for rates.
External Scholarship Opportunities
Families are encouraged to apply for external scholarships to assist their students in completing their journey with The Colorado Springs School. The following are among the many philanthropic organizations that partner with CSS to offer need-based scholarships for students in Colorado Springs.
Enrichment Opportunities for Private School & Homeschool Families
No parent should have to choose between their school of choice and extracurricular activities. Inspired Learning has been created for that purpose - to help your student reach their own personal goals by giving them access to reduced / no cost sports and activities. Follow the link and click on our Sports Support or PEP course to learn more about how Inspired Learning can help your student thrive at The Colorado Springs School.
Learn more about Inspired Learning
To be eligible for financial aid from Parents Challenge, you must:
- Be a resident of El Paso County, Colorado
- Meet federal income guidelines based on your total family income and the number of people in your household.
For those choosing to attend a private school like CSS, scholarships (up to $2,100 per year) are paid directly to CSS as partial payment for your annual tuition. (Checks are issued to the school with the parent verifying acceptance of scholarship.) Parent(s) are responsible for the remainder of the tuition and any other fees, materials, and transportation that may be required for enrollment in the private school.
MILITARY FAMILIES
Folds of Honor
Mission: We the people have found what unites us. It’s our honor to empower people from every walk of life through education and the opportunities it creates. Forty-one percent of Folds of Honor scholarships are awarded to minorities, making our recipient family as diverse as the country we call home.
Learn more about scholarship types and deadlines.
For eligible children in grades K-12, The Folded Flag Foundation provides scholarships and educational grants to cover private school tuition and fees, tutoring, after-school programs, summer camps, and other related educational expenses.
Learn more about application requirements and the application process.
2024-2025 Tuition and Fees
The Board of Trustees has announced the below tuition for families beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year. Additional program fees, which are subject to change, can be found here for 2024-2025 school year. The Tuition Working Group conducted a comprehensive review and referenced National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) AND Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) data for best practices.
Note: $1,200 non-refundable tuition deposit required per applicant.
| Grade Level | CSS Tuition | Estimated Additional Programs/Fees | ACIS (Average tuition for Colorado Independent Schools) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
PreK (5 Full Days)
|
$20,000
|
Fall Adventure & Colorado Expedition, School Supplies, Lunch, Before & After-school Extended Care
|
$22,481
|
|
Grades K – 5 (Lower School Students)
|
$21,200
|
Fall Adventure & Colorado Expedition; School Supplies; After-School Activities and Clubs; Go West (After-School program); Lunch; Transportation
|
$25, 225
|
|
Grades 6 – 8 (Middle School Students)
|
$24,500
|
Athletics; Seminars; 8th Grade Walkabout; School Supplies; Bring Your Own Device Program; Lunch; Snack Box; Bus Transportation; Learning Lodge
|
$27, 250
|
|
Grades 9 – 12 (Upper School Students)
|
$27,000
|
Athletics; Books; Mountain Caravan; Experience-Centered Seminars; School Supplies; Bring Your Own Device Program; Lunch; Snack Box; Bus Transportation
|
$35,075
|
|
Grades K – 5 (International Students)
|
$26,000 (Returning) $30,000 (New)
|
School Supplies; Lunch; Bus Transportation
|
|
|
Grades 6 – 8 (International Students)
|
$29,000 (Returning) $34,000 (New)
|
Athletics; Seminars; 8th Grade Walkabout; School Supplies; Bring Your Own Device Program; Lunch; Snack Boxs; Bus Transportation
|
|
|
Grades 9 – 12 (International Students)
|
$34,000 (Returning) $48,000 (New)
|
+ Homestay and Placement Fees. Books; Mountain Caravan; Experience-Centered Seminars; Athletics; School Supplies; Bring Your Own Device Program; Lunch; Snack Box; Bus Transportation
|
|
|
Grades 6 – 12 (New International Students)
|
$60,000
|
Includes Homestay and Placement Fees. Additional: Books; Mountain Caravan; Experience-Centered Seminars; Athletics; School Supplies; Bring Your Own Device Program; Lunch; Snack Box; Bus Transportation
|
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|
|
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Payment Plan:
• Annual (2.9% credit/debit card convenience fee for this payment method,* plus optional 2.5% Tuition Insurance Plan) - Due May 1
• Monthly (1% admin fee and 2.9% credit/debit card convenience fee for this payment method,* plus 2.5% Tuition Insurance Plan) - 10 Payments beginning July 1
*This is a pass-through fee charged to CSS by credit card companies; CSS does not benefit from this fee.
Tuition Obligation Policy: The School’s expenses are fixed well in advance of the academic year. Pre-payments of tuition are payable to the School as liquidated damages and are subject to the following penalties given withdrawal or dismissal from the School within the timeframe below:
- On or before June 1 - 50% of scheduled tuition and fees owed, including forfeiture of the enrollment deposit
- On or after July 1 - 75% of the scheduled tuition and fees owed, including forfeiture of the enrollment deposit
- On or after August 1 - 100% of the scheduled tuition and fees owed, including forfeiture of the enrollment deposit
Parents' obligation to pay the charges for tuition and fees for the entire year is unconditional and no portion of such charges so paid or outstanding will be refunded or canceled notwithstanding the subsequent absence, withdrawal or dismissal from the School of the named student. The School cannot refund tuition or cancel unpaid obligations if a child chooses or is forced to withdraw during the academic year. Read more about Tuition Insurance.
Seminars and Experience-Centered Seminars: Experience-Centered Seminars (ECSs) and Middle School Seminars will be billed, per student, in installments through FACTS from November through April. For questions, please contact the Business Office.
