Financial Aid FAQs

All families who are interested in financial aid are encouraged to apply. While we cannot be entirely “need blind,” admission decisions and financial aid assessments are made independently. Most admitted students who qualify for financial aid receive offers of assistance. For those who do not, however, we must caution that families enrolling without financial aid cannot expect to receive assistance in subsequent years.

To apply for financial aid, you must complete the Clarity application online at https://auth.clarityapp.com/en/signup/. Please refer to complete instructions and timetable on our Step by Step Guide to Financial Aid page.

Please be sure to select 'financial aid' requested on your inquiry form and your admission application form so our financial aid office knows to expect your application for financial aid. In addition, we will be sure to include you on any communications sent from our office regarding financial aid. If you need to request further information on how to apply or questions pertaining to, please contact lauriekalapinski@stmarksschool.org.

All financial aid applications are processed through the Clarity application. Award sizes are determined by the St. Mark’s Financial Aid Office using a standardized calculation derived by Clarity. This calculation considers income, assets, liabilities, family size, and the number of children attending tuition-charging institutions. After allowances for living necessities and taxes, discretionary income is considered available for education on a sliding scale. Families with larger earnings and assets are expected to make greater contributions.

 

No. Financial awards are based on a family’s demonstrated need and not upon academic, athletic or other merit.

Financial need and awards are reviewed every year, using current information. If there is little change in a family’s circumstances, one can expect that grants will be renewed at a similar level. Bear in mind that tuition increases may be shared between the family and St. Mark’s. Should your need increase or decrease significantly, St. Mark’s is committed to meeting that need appropriately.

No. There are no special requirements for students receiving financial aid.

In cases of divorce or separation, St. Mark’s requires both custodial and non-custodial parents to apply for financial aid. The parents must complete the Clarity application and provide copies of all tax schedules directly to Clarity. Stepparents’ ability to contribute to a student’s education is also considered.

All applications for financial aid are confidential. Only the Financial Aid Committee and the Head of School have access to the records.

It is important to apply for financial aid at the beginning of the admission process if you anticipate financial need over the tenure of your student's time at St. Mark's. Family circumstances differ greatly, and there are factors other than income that affect award decisions. St. Mark’s is committed to meeting the needs of a broad spectrum of families.

St. Mark’s is willing to consider applications for financial aid from international students. Application is relatively easy from Canada, a country with income and asset verification analogous to US tax reporting. However, we must caution applicants that our international student financial aid is very limited and highly selective. St. Mark’s requires as much income and asset verification as families can provide, including tax schedules, proof of salary, bank statements, property assessments, etc. Additionally, we must caution families that, although we have granted financial aid to a highly select group of non-US citizens, international student financial aid is extremely difficult to obtain at American colleges and universities.

For anyone applying from Canada, there is a supplemental document request that requires the submission of their T4 slip and Canadian tax return. For all other countries, there are additional supplemental documents required for income verification, including bank statements, salary verification from employer, or non-US tax filing. International applicants will be prompted after the submission of their Clarity application to upload income verification documentation in their Clarity portal.