Tuition & Financial Aid

What is a Financial aid Program?

There are financial obligations when a family sends their child to an independent or private, non-public school. The primary expense is tuition which covers the cost of teachers, supplies and facilities. Families whose current financial circumstances may not fully support the tuition required to enroll in HudsonWay Immersion School (HWIS) are encouraged to submit an application for assistance under the school’s Financial Aid Program. Our school seeks families who are committed to our vision and who are able to use their own resources, at least in part, to make this education a priority for their children. Financial aid is a grant and not a loan. It does not have to be repaid. Decisions to award aid are based solely on financial need. HWIS currently offers more than one million dollars in financial aid across both campuses.

Who is eligible?

1. The student must be enrolled in or accepted for enrollment into a 5 day -per-week Day School program at HWIS. The school makes more financial aid available for those students continuing in our program through elementary and/or middle school.
2. The family must be able to afford at least 50% of the published tuition. Note: Aid will generally not be offered if a family can afford 90% or more of the tuition.
3. Financial aid is offered for tuition only and does not include book fees, optional catered lunch delivery, extended care, after-school enrichment, summer camp or parent association dues.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

HWIS is pleased to introduce the Clarity Application system for the streamlined and secure submission of your financial aid applications and relevant tax documents.
Clarity's user-friendly, mobile-optimized application can be completed in roughly 30 minutes.
One of Clarity's key features is its ability to directly import your wage and tax information from the IRS, minimizing the manual data entry required and allowing for a swift, efficient application process. Please note, there is a $60 fee upon submission of your application. However, this application can be shared with other schools that utilize the Clarity Application at no extra cost.

To get started, please visit the Clarity website and create an account before starting an application.

Here is a Timeline to help you understand the process:

  1. New Applicants for 2024-25 school year: By January 31, 2024

Returning Applicants for 2024-25 school year: By January 19, 2024

  • Finalize the financial aid application via Clarity.
  • Ensure consistency in the student's name and date of birth across all application materials, avoiding nicknames.
  • Remember to check back for any additional documentation that HudsonWay Immersion School might require, such as further tax documentation. 

For Non-U.S. Residents: 

  • Proceed with the financial aid application through Clarity.
  • Non-U.S. applicants should provide official 2022 income/asset documentation, like foreign tax returns, or official employer income statements. Please provide translated versions of documents not originally in English. Upload all supporting documents directly into the Clarity Application. 

2. The Clarity model calculates what a family can afford to pay based on the data submitted.

3. The School’s Financial Aid Officer receives the results from Clarity and determines what, if any, adjustments need to be made to the data submitted (for example, a recent change to a family’s financial condition) in conjunction with the school’s financial aid consultant. 

4. In some cases, the Financial Aid officer may need additional documentation from the family.  Examples of this could include any of the following: 

  • Personal net worth statement
  • Copy of tenancy/mortgage agreement
  • Copies of any current loan agreements, including credit card statements
  • Proof of any other debts and other general costs
  • W-2s for step-parents/grandparents (if they fund the child’s education)
  • Copies of the most recent investment account statements
  • Financial data for any business that a family may have an ownership stake in.

5. Financial Aid decisions will usually be made within about two weeks if the application submitted by the family is complete (longer if the application is incomplete).  Aid decisions will be made on a rolling basis throughout the enrollment cycle depending on the availability of financial aid.

6. Financial aid must be applied for every school year.

At HWIS, we believe in the commitment of all parents to contribute to their children's education within their means. Our financial aid considerations include the total income and financial situation of all custodial parents/guardians. Please be aware: 

  • HudsonWay takes into account the financial resources of both legal guardians, if applicable, before granting any financial aid. We do not abide by any disclaimers avoiding educational financial responsibilities by any guardian. In cases of remarriage, we assess the financial obligations of the remarried guardian, inclusive of their new partner's financial circumstances. In cases of divorce or separation, a separate application must be submitted for each household. However, we are mindful of the step-parent's financial responsibilities to their own biological children.

Clarity Assistance:

Should you require assistance while filling out your application, Clarity offers in-app support accessible through the “Help” icon, as well as support via email at support@claritytuition.com or phone at 206-210-3752, available in English and Spanish. The application is also available in Spanish. 

Family Application Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/family-application-guide/

Application Quick Reference Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/quick-reference-guide/

SPANISH Family App Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-family-application-guide/

SPANISH App Quick Ref Guide: https://clarityschools.com/library/spanish-quick-reference-guide/

Frequently asked questions:

1Does applying for aid affect admission decisions?
Not as long as aid funds are still available. We encourage early financial aid applications due to funding limitations. Aid is only granted after a student is admitted.
2Is my information secure with Clarity?
HWIS takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 and uses enterprise-level security standards including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. For more information, please refer to Clarity’s Privacy Policy (https://clarityschools.com/privacy).
3How do I know if I'm eligible for aid?
There is no specific income or asset number that determines if you are eligible for aid or not. Clarity looks at your entire financial picture to determine an “expected family contribution.”
4Do we offer scholarships based on merit?
No, not at this time.
5What proportion of students receive aid?
Our goal is to keep this percentage in the 15-20% range across both campuses.
6Will tuition fees increase?
Tuition is reviewed annually, and adjustments are made to reflect the operating costs of the school.
7What if our financial situation changes?
If you didn't initially apply for aid but your circumstances drastically change, contact us. We assess these situations on a case-by-case basis depending on the availability of aid.
8Is aid available after the Winter/Spring enrollment season?
While most financial aid decisions are made during this period, if financial aid funds are still available, aid decisions will continue to be made on a rolling basis up to the beginning of classes in September.
9How is the school’s financial aid budget determined?
Funding each year is based on several factors, the most important of which is anticipated enrollment. Funds are allocated first to returning families.

If you have any concerns or queries, we encourage you to reach out. Please contact the Enrollment Directors: For the NY campus, Nicole Liu at nliu@hwis.org and for the NJ campus, Tracie Xiong at txiong@hwis.org.