"School Loans"
Three Under 23K: Subiaco Academy, St. Bernard Prep, Houghton Academy
Talking about boarding school bargains is something of an oxymoron. How can a $23,000, or less, annual tuition for a high school education be construed as a bargain? Easily, in light of the fact that traditional boarding school tuition runs about $42,500. Easily, in light of the lasting affects that a sound boarding school education [...]
Read MoreBoarding School Waiting List & Financial Aid Questions
“We’ve been wait listed; is there anything we can/should do? And, did I mention that we also need financial aid?” We’ve been individually replying to variations of these two questions several times a day for the last few weeks. However, I suspect that readers from whom we haven’t heard might benefit from having our suggestions [...]
Read MorePrivate School Tuition Insurance
Tuition insurance is a product that I had put out-of-sight/out-of-mind over the years. But the New York Times ran a brief conversation (What You Need to Know About Tuition Insurance) with “Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on student loans who publishes the Web site Finaid.org” (NYT) that merits mention. While most of the conversation covers college [...]
Read MoreIn Any Market, the Down Portion of the Cycle Offers Buying Opportunities: Private Schools Are No Different- Carpe Diem
In a piece for SmartMoney (The Private School Pinch), Neil Parmer makes the case for the current private school admission cycle as a buyers opportunity. He doesn’t sugar coat the costs but he makes the case for- and provides ideas and examples- of the negotiating and buying opportunities available to parents. Boarding and private schools [...]
Read MoreThe Public Versus Private Equation: Families Work to Reach Decisions
I read a couple of articles over the past few days that, combined, provide a good pictures of the thinking, priorities and sacrifices that families are grappling with in their ‘public or private’ school decisions. With a generally more conservative outlook about future earnings and home equity gone as a banking option families are struggling [...]
Read MoreBoarding School Podcast Sustainablity Series
In light of the economic downturn, school sustainability and adaptive strategies have been hot topics for a number of months. No one is spared from the realities of a shrinking economy- schools, families, students- we’re all impacted. To encourage a conversation about the options available to families and schools, AQ’s Boarding School Podcast hosted a [...]
Read MoreBlue Ridge Schools Publishes Affordability Plan
Blue Ridge School recently added its Affordability Plan to the school’s web site laying out their commitment to affordability. It includes both philosophical and concrete examples of the school’s approaches and commitment. Among other items in the Affordability Plan, Blue Ridge has increased its financial aid budget by 30% over the past two years and, [...]
Read MoreA Podcast Conversation About Affording Private School in an Economic Downturn
Addressing the admissions notification and financial aid season, we produced a podcast today discussing financial aid in tight times. Peter spoke with Martin Peyer, CEO of Tuition Data Services and Jamie Miller, Director of Financial Aid at the Blue Ridge School. They explored financial aid and tuition payment strategies for families as they make their [...]
Read MoreWashington, DC Catholic Schools Find Ways to Increase Financial Aid and Reach Out to Families
From today’s Washington Post (Aid Is Increased to Help Keep Struggling Families From Removing Students)- with experience working through difficult situations over the past decade- declining enrollment, increasing costs and families electing non-catholic education options, the Catholic schools of the DC area are moving quickly and decisively to help families seeking financial aid. As Karen [...]
Read MoreHolidays Are A Good Time to Work On Private School Applications
With the break from school and the slower routine, the end of year holidays provide a great time to make sure your ducks are in a row with respect to the private school application process. This is an overview of where you might expect to be if you’re on an ideal application calendar. If you’re [...]
Read MoreContracting Budgets at the Collegiate and Secondary Levels Mean Something for Everyone in Private Education
Let’s be blunt; the crazy year in the financial markets is crushing and causing a wholesale resetting of budgets in priorities for everyone in tuition based education. Collegiate losses of endowment value and income are affecting college budget priorities and decisions. Wealthy, heavily endowed colleges and universities are paring back- beginning with (most obviously) building [...]
Read MoreBoarding School Financial Aid in Tight Times
Because of the current financial crisis in our country, people are hesitant to consider applying to independent schools thinking they can’t afford the tuitions. I am writing to tell the readers not to despair… all boarding schools offer generous financial aid to families who can demonstrate financial need. Yes, the application process can be daunting, [...]
Read More529 Plans on the Brain
This is a bit of side-step from our normal conversation about boarding schools, but as a parent of a toddler I’ve got 529 plans on the brain. My wife & I started one a year or so back knowing full well that we needed each second between then and the start of our child’s (gulp!) [...]
Read MoreThings to think about when looking at loans for boarding school
Chris Farrell, Marketplace Morning Report economics correspondent presents a good piece on the recent commitments by several colleges and universities to reduce the borrowing/debt burdens of lower and middle income students. What does this mean for families staring at private school tuition? Read his last paragraph and carry a critical perspective to the table [...]
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