Tuition & Financial Aid | Thomas Jefferson School

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition and Financial Aid

Invest in an education that lasts well beyond TJ.

 

Planning for a TJ education


 

Choosing an independent school is a significant financial decision, and understanding the full picture matters. We want families to know what tuition covers, what payment options are available, and how financial aid works as they consider TJ.


TJ is intentionally small, with small classes, close faculty guidance, and a residential community designed around students' academic and personal growth. Sustaining that kind of education requires significant resources. At the same time, we are committed to making TJ accessible to students who will thrive here and contribute to the life of the school. Each year, we dedicate substantial institutional resources to need-based financial aid and offer several payment options to help families plan for the cost of attendance.


 

Tuition 2026–2027


 

$40,750   Day Students
$66,750   Five-Day Boarding Students
$72,500   Seven-Day Boarding Students
$74,500   International Seven-Day Boarding Students


 

Books: approximately $350–$500, depending on courses.


 

The Board of Trustees typically sets tuition for the following school year in December. 


 

What's included in tuition?

Tuition covers most of the everyday costs of life at TJ, including meals and snacks, laundry, student activities, local field trips, and school events both on and off campus.


Families should plan separately for books, insurance, testing fees, and optional international travel.

Payment plans

Families may choose from several payment options, from a single tuition payment to monthly installments. Our longest payment plan runs from January through January.


International students entering TJ for the first time must pay tuition in full before the start of the school year. Returning international families may be eligible for regular payment plan options.

International Student Health Insurance

International students are required to have appropriate health insurance while enrolled at TJ. The school offers both 10-month and 12-month insurance plans for an additional cost of approximately $1,500 per year.


 

Financial Aid


 

TJ provides need-based financial aid to qualifying families. Awards are based on demonstrated financial need and the funds available for that school year. Because our resources are limited, we cannot always meet a family's full demonstrated need.


If financial aid will be important to your family, applying by the priority deadline gives us the best opportunity to consider your need while funds are available.


Apply for Financial Aid


 

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID DATES


 

APPLICATION DEADLINES


 

January 1, 2027
Returning families


 

January 1, 2027
New 9th-grade day families


 

January 12, 2027
New families in all other grades

DECISION DATES


 

January 29, 2027
Returning families


 

February 5, 2027
New 9th-grade day families


 

March 12, 2027
New families in all other grades

TJ provides need-based financial aid to qualifying families. 

Awards are based on demonstrated financial need and the funds available for that school year.

We use Clarity to help us understand each family's financial circumstances. Income is part of that picture, but Clarity also considers other information about a household when calculating demonstrated need.

Because TJ's financial aid resources are limited, applying for aid does not guarantee an award or that we will be able to meet your family's full demonstrated need. Families who know they will need assistance should apply as early as possible.

Complete your Clarity application

Create an account and complete the financial aid application for your household. Clarity will guide you through the information needed.

Submit the requested documentsComplete your Clarity application

Depending on your family's circumstances, Clarity may request supporting financial documents. You can upload these directly through the application.

TJ reviews your application

Once your application is complete, TJ reviews your family's demonstrated need alongside the financial aid funds available for the coming school year. Financial aid decisions are communicated directly to families.

Begin Your Clarity Application

Applying early matters.

TJ accepts admission applications on a rolling basis, but our financial aid budget is finite. Financial aid may therefore become less available as the admission season progresses, even if space remains in a particular grade.

If financial aid will be an important part of your family's decision, submitting your application by the priority deadline gives us the best opportunity to consider your family's need while funds are available.

Does TJ meet every family's full demonstrated need?

Not always. TJ has a limited financial aid budget, and the amount available varies from year to year. We do our best to assist families with demonstrated need, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet the full amount calculated through the financial aid process.

Will applying for financial aid affect my child's admission decision?

No. Admission and financial aid are separate processes, reviewed by different committees. However, families who need financial aid should submit their financial aid application at the same time they apply for admission. Admission and financial aid decisions are shared on the same day, so families have the full picture when making their enrollment decision.

Do returning families need to reapply for financial aid?

Yes. Financial aid is determined annually. All returning families currently receiving aid, as well as families applying for aid for the first time, must submit a new application by the returning student financial aid deadline each year.

What if our family's financial circumstances change?

We understand that family finances can change from one year to the next. The Financial Aid Committee reviews updated circumstances and considers whether a family's tuition contribution should change as a result. When there is a significant change, we will talk with the family directly. We do our best to make any adjustment reasonable while balancing each family's circumstances with the financial aid resources available to the school.

 

Questions? We're happy to help.

Financial aid can be unfamiliar territory, particularly for families applying to an independent school for the first time. Please reach out if you have questions about tuition, the financial aid process, or what information your family should provide.

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Contact Admissions 

Photo of Alexis Boyer-Meyerman
Alexis Boyer-Meyerman

Director of Enrollment Management

 Email

Deshawn Shouts

Associate Director of Enrollment Management

 Email

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Michael Flynn

Resident Assistant
Advancement Assistant

 Email

Statement of Non-Discrimination

There shall be no discrimination by the School in the selection of its governing Board, in the employment of personnel, in the admission of students, or in the administration of the School’s programming because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital, veteran, or handicapped status in violation of existing state or federal law or regulations.