Tuition Assistance

We recognize that an independent school education is a significant financial commitment, an investment that lasts a lifetime. To ensure that Hockaday is affordable for all admitted students, we offer a robust Tuition Assistance program that meets the needs of a wide range of financial circumstances. Hockaday’s Tuition Assistance program offers transparency and trust in our tuition assistance process. In accordance with the principles and best practices of NAIS and our School’s core values, our process is personal, comprehensive, and confidential.

We offer need-based tuition assistance. Decisions regarding Tuition Assistance are made by the Tuition Assistance Committee on the basis of a family’s demonstrated need and the availability of funds from the school. Such need is defined as the difference between the schools’ tuition and what the family can reasonably contribute.

Applying for tuition assistance has no effect on a student’s application for admission to Hockaday. Admission decisions are based on the student’s qualifications. An applicant is initially accepted for enrollment and then the family’s application for aid is considered.

Hockaday has partnered with School and Student Services (SSS), a third-party service, to help analyze a family’s need for aid. This service provides schools with information and guidelines for making tuition assistance awards fairly and equitably. Click here to learn more about affording a Hockaday education.

How to Apply

List of 2 items.

Visit SSS Website to begin

Go to the SSS website to begin your application process. The Hockaday school code is 3934.
Submit the following items to SSS no later than February 15, 2024 if you are a prospective family or by December 1, 2023 if you are a currently enrolled family.
- Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). All items on the application must be answered. Please include a written explanation of any unusual circumstances that have affected your family's financial situation this year that you would like Hockaday to consider.
- Upon submitting your PFS, the required forms listed below may be uploaded to the SSS portal on your MY DOCUMENTS page. An option to mail your documents directly to SSS is available but may delay the processing of your application. The Cover Sheet provided in the SSS portal should be included, if mailing.
- Copy of the 2023 signed Income Tax Return (including all related schedules such as Schedule A, C, E, etc.). All families applying for aid for the first time should submit tax returns for the current year and the prior year.
- Copies of 2023 W-2 and/or 1099s.
- Monthly Income and Expense Report, signed by both parents.
- A copy of all parents' most recent pay check/check stub.
- If you are a shareholder in an S Corporation or a partner in a Partnership, we will also need copies of your Schedule K-1. A copy of the most recent Profit & Loss Statement may also be required.
- If you are an international student applying for aid you will need to submit the International Student Financial Aid Profile

FAQs

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

How long is tuition assistance available?

Awards are made for one year at a time.

Awards are renewable each year that a family qualifies for aid.

While there is no distinction among students, Hockaday does require its tuition assistance recipients to maintain high academic and citizenship standards.
How much does the tuition assistance application cost?

SSS charges $60 for a tuition assistance/financial aid application that can then be sent to multiple schools to which you apply. They waive the application fee for families below a certain income level.
Do you offer admission application fee waivers?

The Hockaday School is committed to providing families with the financial resources needed to make an independent school education possible. Admission application fee waivers are available for those who qualify. Please contact the Office of Admission at admission@hockaday.org or call 214-360-6526 for information.
Who is eligible?

Qualified students who might not otherwise be able to attend are eligible. All tuition assistance is granted on the basis of demonstrated family need and the school's availability of funds.
How am I notified?

All applicants applying for tuition assistance are notified in writing of the award decision. All information concerning tuition assistance is held in the strictest confidence by The Hockaday School.
If I do not receive tuition assistance in my first year at Hockaday can I receive it in the future?

If you do not receive tuition assistance with your initial application, you should not expect to receive it in future years unless your family financial circumstances change.
What if I haven’t completed my tax return by the application deadline?

We understand that our deadline is earlier than the IRS deadline. In order for us to make a complete analysis of the applications of all of the families applying for aid, our deadline is necessary. We ask that you comply if you wish to be considered for a financial grant. Please be in communication with us if there are extenuating circumstances and understand that we may not be able to accommodate your timetable.
What if my income does not reflect my current situation?

We understand that situations may change due to job loss or illness or other life events. Please explain your situation on your application and expect to schedule a meeting to help us understand your current circumstances.
Does Hockaday award scholarships?

All funds are distributed in the form of financial aid. This year, over 14% of the student body received over $3 million in financial assistance; however, none of this is in the form of merit scholarships. We encourage families to apply if an education at Hockaday would not otherwise be affordable for their daughters.
How is tuition assistance calculated?
The Awards Committee takes into consideration the needs analysis for each family as provided by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), the resources of the family and its individual circumstances, as well as the availability of tuition assistance funds when making the final determination of tuition assistance awards. Criteria on which the SSS determines a family's need for assistance are:
- family's income
- family's assets
- family's liabilities
- unusual expenses
- family size
- retirement needs
- number of children attending tuition-charging schools
What if the student's parents are divorced or separated?

When making tuition assistance decisions, the Awards Committee takes into consideration the financial resources of both parents, regardless of their marital status. Since Hockaday is not bound by court orders as to financial responsibility for a student's education, both parents are required to submit all required financial documentation, including annual tax returns.

Contact Us

List of 1 members.

Cyndi Lewis

Director of Enrollment Management

214-360-6521

The Hockaday School admits qualified students of any race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.