Tuition & Financial Assistance

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.
  
  

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  HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

  
  Step 1: Indicate Financial Assistance Interest
  
  

  On 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 $60 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.

  If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish. 
   

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  Additional Clarity Resources:
  
  

  • Clarity Quick Reference Guide
  • Clarity Family Application Guide
  • Clarity Family Application Guide (Spanish)
  • VIDEO: Captioned Introduction to Clarity for Families
    
    

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  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.
  
  

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  Can I pay for the first year and then apply for assistance the following year?

  
  No, except for absent extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances. Financial assistance will not be available in later years for students who come to the school as full-pay at the time of admission. If a family enrolls their child without financial assistance, that child is counted as a “full-pay” student. With limited financial assistance funds, we plan carefully to meet the present needs and protect future funding for the families that we have committed to assisting. We encourage new families applying to Oakwood to give careful consideration to the full cost of independent school education. If you will be relying on assistance from relatives, you should be certain of their commitment to providing this assistance for the duration of your child’s time at Oakwood.
  
  

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  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.
  
  

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  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.
  
  

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  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.
  
  

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  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.

  
  

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  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 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.
  
  

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  Does applying for financial assistance influence the admission decision? 
  
  Oakwood’s Admission Committee conducts a review of candidates without knowing whether or not they are applying for financial assistance. After accepting the most compelling students, those who applied for financial assistance are referred to the Financial Assistance Committee to determine financial need. As awards are granted and funding becomes limited, some compelling candidates may be offered a place on the waiting list with the hope that space and funding may become available after the first round of decisions.

  
  

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  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

  Clarity Application
  
  Los Angeles Independent Schools
  
  NAIS Parent's Guide to Independent School Financial Assistance
  
  Private Loan Programs - Your Tuition Solution