Affording a Prairie School Education
Today, there are many choices when it comes to education. Here at Prairie, we understand and appreciate that a Prairie School commitment can represent a significant financial investment for a family.
Payment Plans
The Prairie School offers a 10-month payment plan through FACTS Tuition Management. All payments are automatically withdrawn from your checking or savings account.
Families may choose to pay the full tuition by July 15 (prior to the fall semester) or elect to make semester payments, which are due July 15 and January 1.
A 5% sibling discount is offered for the second child in a Prairie family. A 10% discount is offered for subsequent children. Full tuition applies to the eldest child.
Need-Based Financial Aid
The Prairie School distributes over $1.5 million annually in need-based financial aid and merit-based scholarships. Approximately 42 percent of Prairie families receive financial aid or scholarship awards. Financial aid eligibility begins with Kindergarten.
School and Student Services, an organization that analyzes the Parents' Financial Statement, recommends eligibility for assistance. Prairie School's Finance Office makes adjustments based on these recommendations considering a family's special circumstances and the need of the whole applicant pool. Consideration is confidential. Applicants are required to submit a current IRS Form 1040 with all Schedules and W-2s. Financial aid is awarded in April/May of each year.
Financial Assistance Application Process
The Prairie School offers financial assistance to admitted applicants on a need basis:
- Complete the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) application, which is available through the Admissions Office.
- Submit the completed PFS application to School and Student Services for financial aid consideration.
- Send a copy of your PFS application and a
complete copy of your Federal Income Tax Form 1040, including all W-2s
to the Admissions Office.
Financial aid awards do not need to be repaid, but parents do need to reapply each year. Unless there is a significant change in the financial capabilities of the families, we try to provide a consistent level of support for students.
If interested, a family may complete the Preliminary Financial Aid form in advance of completing the full Parents' Financial Statement (PFS). This allows Prairie's Chief Financial Officer to estimate how much, if any, financial aid the school may be in a position to award to the family.
Merit Scholarships
Funded by the school's endowment and gifts from individual friends, The Prairie School's scholarship program recognizes talent, achievement and leadership and annually awards scholarships to students who demonstrate these qualities. Scholarships are awarded in varying amounts to new and continuing students.
