Financing a College Prep Education

Tuition and Financial Aid

The financial-aid program at College Prep benefits everyone, whether you apply for aid or not. College Prep is committed to serving qualified students in our community, regardless of ability to cover the full cost of tuition.  We keep tuition in the lower to middle range among similar Bay Area independent secondary schools ($28,600 for 2008-2009), but even that cost puts a College Prep education beyond the means of many able and worthy students. This year, over 23% of our students will receive assistance in the form of grants with an average award of over $17,000. Approximately $1.5 million has been designated for financial aid in 2008-2009.

Admissions decisions are made without regard to financial-aid status. Families requesting aid are asked to complete a Parents’ Financial Statement, which is then submitted to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid. The amount of the aid awarded is based on guidelines provided by the School and Student Service, as well as the ability of the school to meet demonstrated financial need.

Financial aid, once awarded, will be continued through the senior year, provided financial need continues. Awards are revised annually, however, and the Financial Aid Committee requires an application and financial statement each year.

There are no required general fees in addition to tuition except the non-refundable application fee of $75. The cost of books, supplies, field trips and art materials, approximately $850-$1,100 for a school year, is billed to the student. The fee for participating in interscholastic sports is $100 per sport. Students electing to participate in out-of-area trips or tournaments are usually expected to pay their own travel costs.

Tuition is payable in two installments: the first in early June and the second in early January. A non-refundable registration deposit is due in early spring before the year of enrollment. Because the school must commit itself to faculty, staff and facilities costs for a full year, enrollment of a student obligates the parent or guardian for a full year's tuition regardless of any reason for withdrawal or dismissal at any time during the school year. Tuition insurance is available and recommended.

For questions about financial-aid please contact Jonathan Zucker, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at (510) 652-4364 x3. Please also consider joining us at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 in the College Prep Rech Room for a financial-aid information session for families applying to College Prep or Head-Royce.

For More detailed information about financial-aid policies and procedures, please download our financial-aid information packet.

Current College Prep families receiving financial-aid should download important information for returning students.

Financial Responsibility of Parents

A gap between tuition income and expenses is common among independent schools.  In order for College Prep to attract and retain top quality faculty and provide the kind of experience you expect from us, we rely on voluntary contributions to the Annual Fund and other fundraising to cover our full operating costs. 

Why not charge in tuition the total cost to cover expenses? The answer for College Prep is our commitment to keeping College Prep accessible.  By keeping tuition as affordable as possible and providing financial aid when necessary, College Prep is able to attract a wide range of academically able, friendly, and talented students. In addition, contributions to the Annual Fund are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

To close the tuition/expense gap, we turn to current parents, past parents, alumni, trustees, faculty, friends, foundations and corporations each year to make a donation to the extent they are able.  Individual gifts range in amount, but each year we strive for 100% participation from our current families.  We rely on the generosity and loyalty of our community to assure that every student will benefit from all that College Prep has to offer.