A commitment to opportunity

Tuition & Financial Aid

Apply Now

Please note that our funds run out well before the end of the year! To be eligible for consideration for financial aid at Watkinson School, returning students please submit financial aid applications by January 1st. New applicants must submit by February 1.

Apply for financial aid

Tuition for the 2025-2026 School Year

6th and 7th grade — $45,400.00
8th to 12th grade — $51,700.00
Academy — $35,100.00
International — $53,900.00

Hear Karen’s full story here.

A Grant for College Educators

Watkinson is pleased to offer a tuition grant of up to 25% to full-time educators at colleges and universities. Should your student also qualify for another source of funding, such as financial or merit aid, the higher offer prevails. Get in touch for more information!

We know independent school is an investment for any family — a worthy and important investment, and also a very serious commitment. That’s why we are equally serious about working as hard as we can to enroll and assist the most outstanding and qualified students. Our need-based financial aid aims to provide the opportunity for families who are unable to afford the full cost of tuition to attend. While we are not able to guarantee financial aid for all students, more than 60% of our students receive some level of financial aid each year.

Here are a few important specifics:

Financial aid grants vary in size from $5,000 up to highly competitive grants which cover nearly the entire cost of tuition.
Our average award is approximately $25,000. At Watkinson, students have a better chance of getting a small to medium award, making it possible for more middle and upper-middle income families to afford a Watkinson education.
This year, 35% of students receiving need-based grants are from families with household incomes between $100,000 – $199,999 and 41% are from families with incomes over $200,000.
We strive to match the difference between the cost of tuition and what a family can afford based on the information provided to us.

Watkinson financial aid packages are direct grants, with no repayment required.

Payment Options

A no-interest monthly payment plan is available through SMART Tuition.

The Clarity Application

Watkinson’s financial aid program is designed to make a Watkinson education possible for those who qualify based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Please use the Clarity application to help us determine financial need using the information shared in the application, including assets, income, expenses, and debts.

Deadlines

The deadline for completing the financial aid application (including relevant supplemental documents, if required) is:

• returning students — January 1
• new students — February 1

If you need help 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 (206-210-3752) support, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

Go to the application

Returning Students

Financial aid awards for returning students are reviewed each February; the continuation of aid and an increase or decrease in amount are decided on the basis of financial need and the overall available financial aid budget.

This year, over 60% of Watkinson students received need-based financial aid.

Here’s how grants were distributed: