Access to extraordinary education.
Tuition and Affordability
At MICDS, we strive to live into our bold Mission as we cultivate students who are equipped with academic, social, and emotional intelligence. We prepare students with the knowledge, skills, desire, and confidence needed to be successful and make a difference in an ever-growing, ever-changing world. Students are supported by faculty, coaches, administrators, and peers as they discover and further their passions in and out of the classroom.
Average Grant
Need-based tuition assistance.
MICDS’ tuition assistance program is a need-based program. Need is defined as the difference between educational expenses and the family’s ability to pay those expenses. Family situations vary widely and in addition to income, many factors such as household size, parent age, number of children in tuition-paying schools, business, and personal assets, and debt are considered when determining a family’s need for assistance. Generally speaking, a family of four earning $175,000 and two students in tuition-charging schools is likely to qualify for tuition assistance.
View the “Average Grant by Household Income Chart” below and click here to enlarge the chart.
tuition and tuition assistance
Tuition and average tuition assistance grants:
| 2024-25 Tuition | Average Need-Based Tuition Assistance for 2024-25 | |
| Lower School (Grades JK-4) | $25,460 | $15,500 |
| Middle School (Grades 5 & 6) | $30,190 | $19,200 |
| Middle & Upper School (Grades 7-12) | $34,910 | $21,600 |
What's included with tuition?
Tuition includes:
Lunch and snacks at each division
How to Apply
Tuition assistance application timeline & process.
How to Apply
MICDS is proud to use Clarity 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 with your tuition assistance application, please go to Clarity and create an account.
- The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete and is mobile-friendly, so you can complete it from anywhere. You are 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.
- The deadline for completing the tuition assistance application, including relevant supplemental documents, is November 25, 2024, for current families, and December 13, 2024 – January 31, 2025, for new families, depending on the grade level, which is detailed below.
- Please reach out to Ciera Field, MICDS Associate Director of Admission – Tuition Assistance, at cfield@micds.org, for the recording of the Affording MICDS webinar that was conducted on November 6.
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If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available, email and phone support at support@claritytuition.com or (206)210-3752, in both English and Spanish, or you are welcome to contact Ciera Field, MICDS Associate Director of Admission – Tuition Assistance at cfield@micds.org.
resources
Helpful resources:
- Clarity – Quick Reference Guide
- Clarity – Family Application Guide
- Guiding Principles for Families – These principles reflect the standards of equity and fairness among applicants and the collaborative nature of the application process.
- Tuition Assistance Policies and Practices – Learn more about our tuition assistance policies and practices.
Tuition FAQs
- When is tuition due?
Tuition is due on the following dates:
- 10% is due at the time of enrollment
- 30% of the balance is due on June 15 of the current school year
- 30% of the balance is due on August 15 of the current school year
- 30% of the balance is due on December 15 of the current school year
- Are there tuition payment options?
Payments can be made by check or through the MICDS website with ACH transfer or credit card. A 10-month payment plan (10-Pay Plan) is available. In this plan, monthly payments are automatically withdrawn from an account on a specific day of each month, June through March. MICDS does not accept tuition payments on behalf of enrolled students from unrelated third-party organizations.
- Can I use my 529 plan to pay tuition?
Yes, 529 plans can be accessed to pay tuition fees at MICDS for grades K-12. As of 2018, for federal tax benefit purposes, up to $10,000 in tuition expenses per student per year is exempt. In addition, Missouri taxpayers can use 529 assets with no state tax consequences. This is not the case with all states, so if you reside outside of Missouri, please consult your tax advisor. MICDS does not accept tuition payments on behalf of enrolled students from unrelated third-party organizations.
- Why is there an MICDS Fund on top of tuition costs?
Gifts to the MICDS Fund help to offset the cost of tuition and the full cost of educating a student at MICDS. All gifts are considered charitable contributions and are fully tax-deductible.
Tuition Assistance FAQs
- What is tuition assistance?
Tuition assistance is a need-based grant that does not need to be paid back. All tuition assistance grants are based solely on a family’s demonstrated need as determined by Clarity and the MICDS Tuition Assistance Committee. More than $6.73 million in tuition assistance was granted for the 2024-2025 academic year. MICDS does not accept tuition payments on behalf of enrolled students from unrelated third-party organizations.
- What are the 2025-2026 school year tuition assistance application deadlines?
Applications for tuition assistance should be submitted at the same time as the admission application.
For First Round Consideration, please meet these application deadlines:
Currently Enrolled Students November 25, 2024 Family Early Action Option (JK) Applicants December 13, 2024 New 9th Grade Applicants January 20, 2025 New Applicants for All Other Grade Levels January 31, 2025 - What if I miss the tuition assistance application deadline?
Adhering to the submission deadlines is essential for first round consideration. Applications for tuition assistance will be accepted beyond the deadline, though assistance may be limited.
- What is demonstrated need?
“Demonstrated need” is defined as the difference between the amount a family is expected to contribute to the cost of the student’s education and the amount of annual tuition. All families attending MICDS are expected to contribute toward the cost of their student’s education.
- If I think I earn too much to qualify, should I still apply?
Absolutely! There are a wide range of financial profiles that qualify for assistance and even a small award may be able to make a critical difference for a family. Refer to our average tuition grant by household income chart above to get an idea of your eligibility.
- What does tuition assistance cover?
Tuition assistance is a tuition reduction. Families who receive need-based tuition assistance also receive partial assistance with other essential costs beyond tuition such as textbooks, summer reading, and extended day services.
- When will I receive a decision about tuition assistance?
Decisions on tuition assistance are made available at the same time as the admission decision and are included in the student enrollment agreement.
- What effect does a tuition assistance application have on a student's admission application?
None. Admission decisions are made irrespective of a family’s ability to pay. The admission process and the tuition assistance process are separate and distinct.
- Will the level of tuition assistance change in subsequent years?
Possibly. Because a family’s financial circumstances are subject to change, we require families to reapply for tuition assistance every year. However, if your family situation remains relatively the same, then you can expect relatively the same percentage of tuition assistance–understanding that tuition and fees are likely to increase each year. On the contrary, significant changes in household income, either up or down, would likely have an impact on a family’s demonstrated need.
- What if I am separated or divorced?
MICDS expects all parents to contribute to their child’s educational costs to the best of their ability. The Tuition Assistance Committee considers the income and assets of both natural parents, regardless of any disclaimers. If a parent has remarried, the stepparent’s financials are also considered. Therefore, both natural parents and their current spouses must complete separate Clarity tuition assistance applications. The enrolling parent is responsible for ensuring the other parent submits their application. Assistance may be denied if this information is not provided. Exceptions are made only if the enrolling parent provides third-party documentation showing the non-contracting parent has had no contact or provided no support for at least two years.
- Who has access to my financial information?
Tuition assistance applications are reviewed by the Tuition Assistance Committee. All information is secure and held in strict confidence.
- Is my information secure with Clarity?
MICDS takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 and uses enterprise-level security standards, including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. For more information, please refer to Clarity’s Privacy Policy.
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