How to apply for financial aid

Latin’s financial aid awards are grants, which means there is no repayment required. The Financial Aid Committee relies upon information supplied by families to Clarity, our need-analysis provider. In computing the amount of the award, Latin considers factors such as family size, income, expenses, assets and liabilities, and priorities for spending. Financial aid is renewed every year.

Each year, we require any family receiving financial aid to submit all required documents so that we can re-assess funding for the next year. Any applicant that indicates financial need and has been accepted will receive financial aid to the full extent of their assessed need.

NOTIFICATION OF
FINANCIAL AID AWARD

If a student is accepted to Latin, the acceptance letter will indicate the details of the award. The financial aid award is not final until the family submits all information requested by Clarity and the application is finalized

Financial Aid Application Steps

Be prepared. Pull together all of your financial aid documents. If possible, file your income taxes early. Make note of all deadlines. Not adhering to the deadlines may impact your ability to receive an award.
Mark the box requesting financial aid on the admissions application, then complete the Clarity application online.
- Families applying to Latin: applications due no later than January 17, 2025.
- Currently enrolled Latin families: applications due by January 1, 2025.
Review and complete the 2025-26 Clarity Family Application Guide.

The most important aspect of this process is meeting the deadlines. Failure to do so will jeopardize your chances of receiving financial aid. In cases of divorce or separation, both parents/guardians must submit all required forms. The family’s ability to contribute is based on the income and assets for both parents/guardians.

Learn more about the financial aid process

Your Right to Appeal an Award

If a student receives a grant from an outside funding source (e.g., DMSF or LINK), these additional funds are considered part of the student’s aid award and should be disclosed as soon as possible to FAST and Latin.

If a family believes that the award is not adequate to meet their needs, they may file an appeal. Appeals must include information that was not available at the time the initial award was made. We are happy to meet with families at any point during the financial aid application process.

NAIS recognizes that the primary responsibility for financing an independent school education rests with the student’s parents/guardians. Like many independent schools, the Financial Aid Committee reserves the right to impute an annual income of $25,000 for a non-working parent/guardians who does not have a child less than 5 years of age at home. Exceptions will be made if the parent/guardian is critically ill or disabled (such that the parent/guardian cannot work), or caring for their critically ill or disabled child, parent or grandparent.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

All information received by the Financial Aid Committee is held in the strictest confidence. Financial aid-related information is only given to Latin employees, and is restricted to the information that is needed. When financial aid information is disclosed, those who receive it are reminded to safeguard it. Financial information is not shared among persons who maintain separate households.

Awarding Policies

Divorced/Separated/Non-Married Parents

We expect financial information from both parents/guardians in cases of divorce or separation, or parents/guardians who never married, regardless of their legal or personal relationship, and regardless of financial obligation as decided by the courts. We do not determine individualized parent/guardian contributions. If either parent/guardian is remarried, we also expect financial information from their spouse, bearing in mind the obligations of the step-parent to any of their children from a previous relationship.

In most cases, the Financial Aid Committee will make an award only after considering the financial resources of both parents/guardians. However, we do look at each situation on a case-by-case basis, and make every effort to be sensitive to particular family circumstances when finalizing an award.

In situations where couples are living together but not married, we require financial information from both parties. If the child is from either party's former marriage, forms will be required of the current family and non-custodial parent/guardian and spouse, if applicable.

Children who are living with grandparents or other relatives will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If the family member with whom the student is living has legal custody, forms will only be required from the custodian. If the child's parents/guardians are still living and are claiming them on their tax forms, forms will be required from the parents/guardians.

Review by the Financial Aid Committee

Consistent with the Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration, and to ensure the consistent application of the Financial Aid Policy across all of Latin's divisions, the Financial Aid Committee must be involved in any funding decisions based on a student’s financial aid status, including, but not limited to:

Funds given by the divisions to help cover the costs of school events.
Financial aid awarded for Latin summer trips.
Money given for student club travel.
Money provided by a Latin-affiliated group for graduation events.
Funds provided by the athletics department.

A coeducational day school serving students JK-12