“I’m reminded on a daily basis that this is the best and most rewarding investment we can make as a family.”
Lower School Parent
What is Flexible Tuition?
Flexible tuition is an individualized approach to determining what your family can afford in tuition each year. Taking into consideration your unique financial circumstances, we custom-tailor a tuition rate to meet your family’s level of need.
Our goal is to ensure that cost is not a barrier to applying for any family who believes their child would benefit from a Friends Academy education. This approach is an empowering way for more families to explore Friends Academy.
Flexible tuition is another way that we abide by our philosophy to see each person as an individual. Our families represent a wide range of backgrounds, income levels, and circumstances, yet they all share one thing in common: they make their child’s education and well-being a top priority.
Approximately half of enrolled families receive a flexible tuition rate
The average annual income of current families who qualify for flexible tuition is $181,000.
2026-27 Flexible Tuition Rates
The ranges and averages shown below are what Friends Academy families invest in tuition each year (per student):
| Program | Average Annual Tuition (Per Student) | Range of Flexible Tuition (Per Student) |
| Kindergarten | $19,200 | $7,500-$25,900 |
| Lower School (Grades 1-5) | $21,450 | $8,000-$29,500 |
| Middle School (Grades 6-8) | $23,260 | $8,500-$33,200 |
| Sally Borden Program: | $11,000-$44,800 | |
| – Grades 3-8: | $32,900 | |
| – Bridge Program (Grade 2 and earlier): | $25,000 | |
| Early Childhood: | n/a* | |
| – Mornings Only (8am-12pm): | $15,200 | |
| – Extended Day (12-3pm): | $1,375 per weekday (for the school year) |
Tuition includes books, field trips, athletics, and early arrival care starting at 7:30am each school day. A non-refundable deposit (applied to the annual tuition balance) is required with each student’s enrollment agreement.
Families can pay tuition in 1, 2, 10, or 12 interest-free installments, depending on what works best for them.
Additional Fees (Not Included in Tuition)
- The Tuition Refund Plan (1.7% of annual tuition fee) is required for all new families unless tuition is paid in one full payment.
- An Apple tech bundle (purchased through the school) is required for all students entering Middle School.
- Optional After-School Program (offered until 5pm every day) and chef-made school lunches (offered each day) are an additional fee.
How to Apply for Flexible Tuition
We partner with a third-party platform called Clarity to determine each family’s flexible tuition rate. Clarity takes into consideration your family’s unique financial circumstances, including:
- Income and assets
- Expenses and debts
- Number of dependents
- Number of children in tuition-charging schools
Click the Apply Through Clarity button above to begin your flexible tuition application!
A typical Clarity application takes about 30 minutes to complete. Once you’ve applied, Clarity provides Friends Academy with information about what is financially realistic for your family. Through further conversations with our admissions office, we can fine-tune a tuition rate that works for all. Families can expect to receive a similar flexible tuition rate each year, as long as their financial situation has not changed significantly.
For step-by-step support in completing your Clarity application, please review the Clarity Family Application Guide.
Let’s Talk About What Flexible Tuition Could Look Like for Your Family
For more information about flexible tuition, contact our Admissions Office anytime:
Peter Bidstrup, Director of Enrollment
pbidstrup@friendsacademy1810.org
(508) 999-1356