.png){kind=logo}
Admissions
Tuition and Affordability
Tuition
List of 1 items.
-
Affording Steward
Each Spartan strengthens our community
We believe a diversity of talents and cultures among our student body provides a rich and well-rounded educational experience. Therefore, we never stop working to make Steward as affordable as possible. Variable Tuition is available for qualified students in JK-12, and we also offer merit-based grants for Upper School students. No family receives a 100% Variable Tuition award; every family is expected to contribute to the cost of tuition and fees.
2024 Stats
List of 1 items.
-
Tuition and Fees
a snapshot of costs
We have estimated the cost of affording Steward by grade level. If you participate in the Variable Tuition program, the standard tuition listed below will be replaced with your customized tuition.
JK
K-5
6-8
9-12
$19,725
$27,260
$29,660
$31,280
List of 3 items.
-
Optional and Non-Optional Costs
Non-optional additional costs may include (amounts estimated):- Student-Purchased Laptop - (Upper School) $700
- Senior Graduation Fee - $150
- Junior College Trip - $200
- AP Exams - (per test; Upper School) $100
- Grade 8 Wilderness Adventures - $375
- New Student Fee - (All School) $600
- Online Books - (All School) $100
- Yearbook - (All School) $50
- Tuition Refund Insurance - (All School) 1.45% of tuition (may be waived)
Optional costs may include (amounts vary):- International Trip
- Sports Equipment
- Class Fundraisers
- Lunch Program
- Choral/Music Attire - (Middle & Upper School) $150
- Art Fees - (Middle & Upper School) $50
- Payment Plan Fee - (All School) $150
- AfterSchool Care
- (Lower & Middle School)
- $10 per hour for students who attend daily (four or five days per week)
- $12 per hour for drop-in students
- Center for the Advancement of Learning (CAL) Tutoring
- (All School) $60/hour plus a 20% administrative fee
-
Fee Schedule
- A non-refundable application fee of $50 is required.
- A required $600 payment is due upon the acceptance of students new to grades JK-12. This is a one-time payment in addition to tuition and other charges.
- A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due at registration for all returning students in grades K-12 and is applied to the student's account for 2024-25. If enrollment is canceled in writing by May 1, 2024, the $1,000 deposit is forfeited. If it is not canceled in writing, parents are responsible for the full year’s tuition.
- Students in grades K-5 are billed in July for curriculum materials. Students in grades 6-12 are responsible for purchasing books as required by their classes.
-
Tuition Payment Plan Options
- 100% of tuition is due July 31, 2024.
- 65% of tuition is due July 31, 2024, and 35% is due January 31, 2025.
- Ten equal payments: The first tuition payment is due April 30, 2024, and the tenth is due January 31, 2025. Tuition payments for students who enroll after April will be spread over the remaining months.
List of 1 items.
-
Accessing a Steward education
is more attainable than you realized
Variable Tuition
The Variable Tuition program, which is optional, customizes tuition based on a family's financial situation.
Our goal is that the Variable Tuition you receive this year should remain consistent (accounting for annual across-the-board tuition increases) unless your financial circumstances change.
Families can inquire about Variable Tuition during the admissions process or at any time during a student’s enrollment at Steward. Applications are confidential and are calculated separately from the admission decision.
List of 2 items.
-
About Variable Tuition
- Variable Tuition is based on need and requires a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) from School & Student Services (SSS), a part of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), as well as copies of your Form W-2, IRS Form 1040, and all related schedules. The PFS also provides space to provide a written statement.
- Variable Tuition is evaluated on an annual basis.
- This is an optional program; however, the Variable Tuition application must be completed concurrently with the admission process. Admission is not influenced by the ability to pay tuition.
- The priority deadline for Variable Tuition requests for the 2024-25 school year is December 1, 2023, for returning students and February 1, 2024, for new students.
-
Variable Tuition FAQ
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIABLE TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID?Both programs apply the same criteria. The Variable Tuition amount is what you will pay in tuition for the upcoming year. Note that tuition only covers a certain percentage of the total cost of educating a student.
HOW IS VARIABLE TUITION CALCULATED?We use a third party to collect certain financial data to compute the estimated resources your family can afford to use for tuition. School & Student Services (SSS) by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a leading source for applications for private and independent schools across the United States. We compare the estimated family contribution from SSS to our available budget to determine your Variable Tuition.WHEN ARE VARIABLE TUITION APPLICATIONS DUE FOR RETURNING STUDENTS?
December 1
WHEN ARE VARIABLE TUITION APPLICATIONS DUE FOR NEW STUDENTS?
February 1 (If you plan to apply after March 1, email Controller Dena Dickson or call her at (804) 565-2336.)WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF THE VARIABLE TUITION DECISION?The decision is timed with (but separate from) the admissions acceptance for new students. The Variable Tuition adjustment will be included in the enrollment contract for both new and returning students.WILL I KNOW WHAT MY VARIABLE TUITION AMOUNT IS BEFORE I ENROLL OR REENROLL?Yes. If you complete and submit the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) through SSS before admittance or by February 1, you will know your Variable Tuition amount before enrolling or reenrolling.DOES STEWARD OFFER A MULTI-STUDENT DISCOUNT?The number of children in tuition-paying schools, including Steward, is an important factor in a family’s Variable Tuition.WE ARE DIVORCED. HOW DO WE COMPLETE THE PFS?Both parents are responsible for tuition and both will need to complete the SSS application separately.WHO SEES MY PARENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT?Only the Variable Tuition Committee reviews the PFS.WHO MAY I CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS?Email Controller Dena Dickson or call her at (804) 565-2336 with tuition-related questions specific to The Steward School, including your Variable Tuition. Email Admissions Director Lindsay McLaughlin or call her at (804) 565-2315 with questions specific to (fill in the blank). You may also contact the SSS Customer Service Center at (800) 344-8328.
Variable Tuition ranges for 2024-25
Lower School- Lowest Variable Tuition rate: $7,500
- Average Tuition for students utilizing Variable Tuition: $16,980
Middle School
- Lowest Variable Tuition rate: $7,390
- Average Tuition for students utilizing Variable Tuition: $17,338
Upper School
- Lowest Variable Tuition rate: $7,470
- Average Tuition for students utilizing Variable Tuition: $16,082
"I am proud to be a part of a community that makes Steward possible for families.”
Merit Grants and Scholarships
We are pleased to offer the Debbie Robson Merit Scholarship, which provides four years of full tuition for a rising ninth-grade student new to Steward. We also offer merit awards for new Upper School students.
Read more about these awards and the application process.
Read more about these awards and the application process.
The Steward School
Inspire the future.
Copyright 2024 The Steward School