Tuition

Sterne School is committed to socioeconomic diversity. We seek to make the cost of attending Sterne affordable for families through tuition reduction. Our Tuition Assistance Program also covers a portion of non-tuition expenses including after school athletics and experiential education programs.

On average, we distribute $1.3 million in tuition assistance dollars annually, and approximately 30% of our students will receive some form of aid. Tuition assistance amounts range from $2,500 to $34,500, with an average award of $22,000.

Tuition Assistance application time is almost here! Clarity is hosting Family Application Webinars this fall. They will cover the Clarity Application, including the new Enhanced Tax Verification (ETV) process. Any family can register for and attend any webinar they choose. Please note that the webinars are recorded and will include an open Q&A with families.

Dates and times for this year's Family Application Information Webinars:

• December 9, 8:30pm Eastern Time

Our partner Mission Enrollment hosted a financial aid family webinar on Tuesday, October 7. Please use the link below if you'd like to see the recording and presentation slides.

Oct 7 Family Webinar RecordiNG
The next Mission Enrollment webinar will be on Tuesday, November 4 at 11:00 a.m. Click here to register.

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application to create or access your  account.

Deadlines for 2026-2027 School Year: Returning Sterne families are required to complete their application by January 16, 2026. New families are required to complete their application by February 6, 2026. 

Clarity Family Application Guide

• The Clarity Application takes less than 30 minutes to complete 
• Save your progress and return at any time
• Share your application with other schools that accept Clarity at no additional charge
• At the end of the application, pay a $60 fee to submit

If you need support to complete your application, navigate to the "Help" button, email support@claritytuition.com, or call 206-210-3752. Both English and Spanish assistance is available. The application is also available in Spanish. 

Late Requests
Requests for Tuition Assistance that are filed after the deadlines will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Renewal
We grant Tuition Assistance awards for one year. Parents must complete an annual application by the deadline. Unless there is a significant change in annual income or available assets, you can expect the approximate level of assistance to be continued from year to year.

What if I cannot afford the application fee?
Clarity will automatically apply a fee waiver to eligible families based on the income information provided.

How is the Family Contribution calculated?
What your family will pay for tuition annually is determined through a methodology developed by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), which takes into consideration gross taxable and non-taxable income, assets, liabilities, unusual expenses, family size, and the number of students in tuition-charging schools or colleges. After allowances for basic necessities and taxes, and a cost of living adjustment for the Bay Area, a portion of the remaining funds are considered available for education. 

If only one parent is working, will the student be considered for tuition assistance? 
In families where only one parent works outside of the home, the Tuition Assistance Committee will adjust the total household income accordingly. If caring for a young child who is not enrolled in school, an infirm or disabled family member, or other special circumstances, the Tuition Assistance Committee will factor this into the tuition assistance award.

What about divorced or remarried parents?
In divorced/remarried households both parents (including new spouses’ income) are considered in the total income calculation. You may provide court order paperwork explicitly stating that one parent only is responsible for tuition; in these circumstances, we follow the court order.

Does applying for tuition assistance affect chances for admission?
The Admissions Committee makes decisions on a need-blind basis. Students who are deemed strong candidates for our program will be offered admission, space allowing, regardless of their financial need. Some years, however, the collective need of students qualifying for tuition assistance exceeds available resources, and we cannot offer tuition assistance to all families that qualify. In those instances, admitted students will be placed on a Tuition Assistance waiting list.