Tuition and Financial Aid

*Includes activity fee for Grades K-12.

Tuition and activity fees cover the costs of tuition and most grade-wide, annual activities. GFS also offers a Non-Tuition Financial Aid (NTFA) program that supports students' full experiences inside and outside the classroom, which includes expenses like lunch, transportation, books, after-school programs, music lessons, tutoring, counseling, trips abroad, and more. Once enrolled at GFS, families apply by completing the NTFA application form as non-tuition expenses arise. To apply, please email financialaid@germantownfriends.org

GFS determines financial aid grants for current and newly accepted families who have applied for financial aid. Financial aid grants are determined equitably and consistently according to demonstrated need as there are no merit-based scholarships. Clarity provides a need-based financial analysis in addition to a recommended award amount. All information received from Clarity is kept confidential.

Award decisions are based on family income, all family assets, including residence(s), retirement savings, other real estate holdings, stocks, bonds, equities, children’s savings, 529s, etc., and family liabilities. Home equity and retirement savings are considered as assets, and capital gains are considered as income. Child support is regarded as an expense to the payer and income to the payee. As part of the application process, families are additionally asked to write a Letter to School where you can share information that might help us better understand your financial situation, including any factors that may impact your ability to pay tuition. 

There are three potential Financial Aid outcomes:

• If you are deemed eligible through our needs-based review, you will qualify for Financial Aid.
• You may receive a notice that you do not qualify for Financial Aid.
• Or, you could be placed on our Financial Aid waitlist.

Tuition costs increase at an average of four percent each year. If a family’s income does not change significantly from one year to the next, we attempt to maintain grant amounts for students as they move through the school, striving to award the same percentage of aid to tuition from one year to the next.

GFS may decide that the Financial Aid budget cannot meet the demonstrated need of a family, and an application may be placed on the Financial Aid waitlist. Offers of aid will be extended to first-round applicants if other families decline our offer of enrollment and financial aid.

GFS offers the following tuition payment plans through FACTS.

Single Payment Plan: 100% of tuition due July 31.

Two-Payment Plan: 60% of tuition due July 31, and 40% due January 31.

Monthly Payment Plan: Ten monthly installments due the 15th of each month from May 2025 through February 2026. Please note that there is a fee associated with this option. Customized dates may be available on request with the Business Office.

All payment plans will be billed and administered by FACTS. If you have questions regarding tuition billing or payments, please contact the Business Office at 215-951-2336.

All applicants' materials, records and award amounts are confidential. Financial Aid applications are reviewed only by Clarity, members of GFS Admissions, and the Director of Financial Aid. Occasionally, financial aid award information (not aid application information) is shared with the Advancement Office, which reports to the State of Pennsylvania to gain additional scholarship monies through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs; with school division heads if additional program support is requested through the Rubenstone Fund; or with the Director of College Counseling, for college scholarship opportunities.

Families are expected to keep the amount of their aid award confidential.

GFS uses the Clarity platform for financial aid applications. All GFS families who receive aid re-apply for financial aid and provide tax/income documentation each year to verify their financial need. We suggest reading their Family Application Guide and Quick Reference Guide before starting the process. Please find the Spanish versions here 2025-2026 Guía de Aplicación de Clarity Para Las Familias, 2025-2026 Guía de Referencia Rápida de Clarity
 

Getting Started:
Create a profile in Clarity, fill out the application, and upload all required documents. This includes paycheck(s) and W-2s that show the total income for every financially responsible parent or guardian. Preliminary financial aid awards will be based on the current year’s earnings and prior year’s tax documents.

All adults who contribute towards a student’s tuition (including parents, stepparents, guardians, and others who pay tuition) are required to provide their tax information to Clarity.
 

Letter to School:
An important part of your application is the Letter to School where you can share information that might help our Financial Aid Committee better understand your financial situation. This can include any factors that may impact your ability to pay tuition. 

Apply Today!