Admission
Tuition & Financial Assistance
An Oakwood education is one that can profoundly impact your child’s life, and we realize that this invaluable opportunity carries significant costs and requires financial planning. Oakwood is dedicated to socioeconomic diversity and ensuring that all families, regardless of income, have an opportunity to attend.
Should you find that Oakwood School is a good match for your student and family, we encourage you to consider our educational community regardless of your financial situation. Oakwood is committed to enrolling exceptional students within the Los Angeles area and offers an extensive need-based financial assistance program that supports qualifying families with incomes ranging from $10,000 to over $250,000.
If your family qualifies for and is awarded financial assistance, you will receive a grant to reduce your tuition. There is no obligation to re-pay this grant at a later time.
IMPORTANT DATES
List of 4 items.
-
Financial Assistance Application Opens
August 20, 2025 -
Financial Assistance Application & 2024 Tax Docs Due for New Families
January 12, 2026 -
Financial Assistance Application Due for Returning Students and New Siblings
October 10, 2025 -
Admission & Financial Assistance Decisions for Incoming Students Grades K-12
March 13, 2026
2025-2026 TUITION & FEES
List of 8 items.
-
Application Fee
$150 -
K-6th Grade Tuition
$45,990 -
7th-12th Grade Tuition
$55,070 -
New Student Fee
$2,500 -
Student Activities Fee
$200 -
Parent Guardian Organization Dues
$95 -
Building Assessment
$2,000 (new students exempt 1st year) -
Bus Service (optional)
$3,400 round trip
$2,700 one way
If you are applying for financial assistance, here are a few details to consider:
- You are eligible to receive an admission application fee waiver in the amount of $150 to cover the entire cost of the application.
- Financial assistance does not need to be repaid. However, recipients are required to apply for financial assistance annually.
- There are payment plans available if you wish to pay in one, two, or ten installments. We partner with Blackbaud Tuition Management for the processing and collection of tuition and fees. With your Blackbaud Tuition Management account, you will have several payment options, including auto debit, online payment, pay by phone or mobile app, bank bill pay, payment by check, or credit card (platform fees apply).
- Recipients of financial assistance also receive support for non-tuition expenses. Tuition does not include meals, books, activities, or supplies. While expenses vary according to grade level, families in the upper grades should budget about $2,500.
- Families who apply for assistance will be notified of grant decisions directly from Pam Tiangco, Director of Financial Assistance and Student Accounts, on the day of the admission decision release date.
More Information
List of 4 items.
-
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION
We have switched to Clarity to manage our financial assistance analysis to serve both our current and prospective families better. We are confident that this change will make the process of applying for Financial Assistance easier for families. Based on the information you provide, Clarity will calculate an estimated amount that your family can contribute toward your students' educational expenses. The Financial Assistance Committee reviews the information provided to Clarity and will notify the family of the decision on their application. All application materials are kept strictly confidential.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Step 1: Indicate Financial Assistance InterestOn the Oakwood admissions application, indicate that you are applying for financial assistance. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for both processes and submit all information by the deadlines.Step 2: Complete the online Clarity application- The Clarity application for the 2026-2027 academic year will be available on August 20. The deadline for new students is January 12 and the deadline for returning students and new siblings is October 10.
- To get started with your financial aid application, please go to Clarity and create an account.
- Divorced or separate households must each submit an application. Neither has access to the other’s information. As long as the student's name and date of birth are identical, both applications will be connected to the student.
- Clarity will ask you to fill out an authorization to transfer a transcript of your Federal taxes to Clarity. There will be no need to upload any personal tax forms to the site. If you have business taxes you will need to upload those forms and additional supporting documents may be requested. Instructions on how to upload and submit additional documents will be on the Clarity site.
- At the end of the application, there is a $65 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools. Income-based fee waivers are available for those who qualify and Clarity will automatically apply those to your application. You will complete one application per household, even if applying for multiple children. If you need help paying for the application, please contact us.
Additional Clarity Resources:- Clarity Quick Reference Guide
- Clarity Family Application Guide
- Clarity Family Application Guide (Spanish)
- VIDEO: Captioned Introduction to Clarity for Families
- 2025 Financial Aid Family Info Night Webinars (Registration Required) - All families are invited to attend any of these webinars to learn more about how to fill out the Clarity application:
- December 9, 8:30 pm Eastern Time
- Family Application Webinar (Recorded)
- Passcode: v=2DLi?6
Important Note: All documents must be submitted to Clarity by upload. No documents should be submitted directly to Oakwood.If you need help uploading documents, please contact the Financial Assistance office. -
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES
While we seek families who make education a priority in budgeting their financial resources, we recognize that different circumstances create different financial needs. Therefore there is no single factor, such as family income, which determines who should apply for financial assistance or who is eligible for assistance.The following general guidelines are provided to help you understand some of the factors considered in the application:- There is no set income or asset level that determines whether an applicant qualifies for assistance. We offer awards from a few thousand dollars up to 98% of tuition and fees depending on the level of need.
- We consider all available monies: parents‘ income, child‘s income, family partnerships, gifts, and any other beneficial interests from which income or principal is derived.
- We expect that if a family is applying for assistance at Oakwood and they have children in other tuition-charging schools and/or colleges, they will also apply for assistance from those schools.
- In cases of separated or divorced parents, we need the same documentation from both parents, regardless of court ordered custody or support. Oakwood cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses. If either parent has remarried, the Financial Assistance Committee will consider the income and assets of the stepparent, however, the Committee will also bear in mind the stepparent‘s obligations to his or her other children. In addition, Oakwood cannot be bound by the assertion that each household is responsible for half the cost of education and therefore, one household should be considered for financial assistance. Both households are required to submit the financial assistance application, and the Committee will determine financial need based on both household's financial circumstances.
- Most of our financial assistance recipients are granted partial awards; the school expects that families will fulfill their remaining financial obligation in accordance with our regular payment schedules.
-
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FAQs
Does Oakwood School offer scholarships?
Oakwood offers financial assistance to families and does not offer “scholarships.” If your family qualifies for and is awarded financial assistance, you will receive a grant to reduce your tuition. There is no obligation to re-pay this grant at a later time.
Can I pay for the first year and then apply for assistance the following year?When a family applies for admission to Oakwood without requesting financial assistance, it affirms their intention and capacity to meet the full cost of tuition both at the time of enrollment and for the duration of their child’s time at the school.Oakwood’s financial assistance program is designed to support families who demonstrate need at the time of admission. Families who choose to enroll as full-pay are expected to continue meeting tuition obligations in future years. Financial assistance will not be available in later years for full-pay families, except in extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances.Oakwood maintains a modest emergency fund to assist currently-enrolled families facing significant, unanticipated financial hardship. To qualify, families must demonstrate that the financial need was unforeseen and did not exist at the time of admission.
How is a family's need determined?
Oakwood’s financial assistance process is comprehensive. In determining need, we consider information obtained from the Clarity application, federal and state income tax returns, and any additional information that the committee feels is necessary for a fair and accurate assessment of the family’s financial standing. While Oakwood requires the same documentation and uses the same methodology to assess each family's ability to pay, every request is evaluated individually.
What educational expenses are considered in awarding assistance grants?
Oakwood’s Financial Assistance Committee makes a single comprehensive grant based on its review of demonstrated financial need and takes into account the full cost of attendance including tuition, fees, books, class trips, and other incidental educational expenses in establishing the amount of an award. For those who qualify, assistance is also available for non-tuition expenses such as bus transportation, lunch, laptop, books, and other qualifying items.
Is financial assistance automatically renewed each year?
Families receiving financial assistance must reapply each year. If a family's level of need changes, assistance may be raised or lowered accordingly.
Are educational expenses likely to change year to year?
Yes. Annual tuition and fees are set by the Board of Trustees in January for the following year. The Board is committed to keeping tuition increases as low as possible and to ensuring that the high quality of our educational program is maintained.
What about separated or divorced parents?
In cases of separated or divorced parents, we require the same documentation from both parents, regardless of court-ordered custody or support. Oakwood cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses. If either parent has remarried, the Financial Assistance Committee will consider the income and assets of the stepparent; however, the Committee will also bear in mind the stepparent’s obligations to his or her other children. In addition, Oakwood cannot be bound by the assertion that each household is responsible for half the cost of education. Therefore, one household should be considered for financial assistance. Both households are required to submit the financial assistance application, and the Committee will determine financial need based on both households’ financial circumstances.
Does applying for financial assistance influence the admission decision?Oakwood’s Admission Committee carefully reviews every applicant based on their academic strengths, potential, and fit with our community. After admission decisions are made, financial need, as determined by the Financial Assistance Committee, is considered as we allocate awards within our limited financial assistance funds and overall enrollment goals.While we strive to support as many families as possible, our resources do not allow us to meet every applicant’s full demonstrated need. We still encourage families to apply for financial assistance if affordability is a concern—doing so will not disadvantage a student who is otherwise a strong candidate for admission. Priority is given to siblings of current students.
Who do I contact with questions?
For Grades K-6, please email Marlene Huitink. For Grades 7-12, please email Pam Tiangco or call 818-732-3060. -
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
