Tuition and Financial Assistance
We want Belmont to be an affordable opportunity for your child
We recognize and understand the importance of making a Belmont Day education affordable to families. Belmont Day is committed to providing the opportunity of an independent school education to qualified students, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances. Our goal is that any student who has been accepted at Belmont Day can attend. Our families reside in thirty surrounding towns and cities. Our financial assistance awards range from 4% of tuition costs covered to 99% of tuition costs covered. Close to 23% of our student body receives financial assistance.
We offer financial assistance based on need
Financial assistance is entirely need-based, and awards are based solely on a family’s ability to pay. Financial assistance awards do not need to be repaid. Belmont Day School subscribes to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) guidelines and Clarity in computing financial need. Financial assistance awards include the costs for:
- School provided lunch for grades 1 to 8
- One-to-one technology, dependent upon the student’s grade level
- All books and materials
- Uniforms for athletics teams for middle school students
The percentage of financial assistance that a family receives towards tuition costs will also be applied to the following programs:
- After School Program
- After school enrichment classes
- Bus transportation fees
- Class trips for middle school students (there is no cost for lower school field labs)
For example, if a family receives a financial assistance award that accounts for 50% of the tuition costs, then a 50% discount would also be applied to the cost of the After School Program, bus transportation, enrichment classes, and class trips.
Here is a look at the 2023-2024 financial assistance awards by family income range*:
*We utilize the Clarity financial assistance application. In addition to the application, we also require prior-year tax documents. The application is thorough and requests information about a family’s assets, debts, and taxable and nontaxable income. All components of the application have an impact on the final financial assistance award that a family receives.
| Family Total Income Range | Percent of Total Financial Assistance Packages Awarded | Average Family Contribution Amount |
| < $89,000 | 15% | $2,950 |
| $90,000 – $159,000 | 30% | $14,817 |
| $160,000 – $190,000 + | 55% | $23,803 |
Academic Year Tuition 2023-24
Belmont Day uses a banded model for tuition rates. We have tuition bands at pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, first and second grade, third through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth grade.
| Pre-kindergarten | $37,250 |
| Kindergarten | $37,250 |
| Grade 1 | $40,550 |
| Grade 2 | $40,550 |
| Grade 3 | $44,270 |
| Grade 4 | $44,270 |
| Grade 5 | $44,270 |
| Grade 6 | $49,310 |
| Grade 7 | $49,310 |
| Grade 8 | $49,310 |
Financing a Belmont Day Education
Tuition Schedules and Payment Plans
Many parents seek out independent schools because they understand the advantages of small classes, excellent teaching, a depth of offerings, and a strong sense of community. We recognize and understand the importance of making a Belmont Day education affordable to families. The following information outlines payment schedules, financing options, and financial assistance made possible by the school.
Belmont Day is committed to providing the opportunity of an independent school education to families, regardless of their financial circumstances. It is our goal that any child who has been accepted to the school will be able to attend.
General Tuition Payment Schedule
Once a child has been accepted or is re-enrolled for the next academic year, a $2,000 reservation deposit is required to reserve a place in a class. This deposit will be applied to the second tuition payment due January 15.
School Tuition
Tuition for the school year will be billed as follows: 60% of the tuition is due on or before July 1, with the remaining 40% of tuition (less the reservation deposit) due on or before January 15. Payment for tuition may be made by cash or check.
After School Tuition
Tuition for the After School program is payable in full at the time of enrollment. This programs is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Tuition Ten Payment Plan
Ten payment plan payments for tuition are due on the first of each month starting in May of each year. For those who will pay tuition via the autopay feature, the first payments will be withdrawn from bank or credit card accounts on the first of the month, or the first bank business day thereafter if the first falls on a weekend or holiday.
Single Payment Plan
The first invoice for tuition is made available in June with payment due on July 1.
Two Payment Plan
The first invoice for tuition is made available in June with payment due on July 1 each year. The second invoice for tuition is made available in December with payment due on the subsequent January 15 each year.
Tuition Refund Insurance
Regardless of the payment plan, those who elect tuition refund insurance will see the premium charge on the first invoice. Learn more about Tuition Refund Insurance.
Service Fees
For those who elect the Two Payment Plan or Ten Payment plan, there is a plan service fee. For those plans, the charge appears on the first tuition invoice.
Incidental Fees
During the course of the school year, fees are billed for field trips, the After School program and enrichment classes, and bus transportation. For those who pay via autopay, the payments will be withdrawn from a bank or credit card account on the due date of the incidental invoice. Parents may also initiate online payments via the Parent Portal.
Credit Card Convenience Fees
For payments made by credit card, a convenience fee is charged by the credit card processor and added to your payment. Payments made via ACH through a bank checking or savings account do not incur charges.
Financial Assistance
In recognition of the sacrifices families make for their children to have an independent school education, Belmont Day offers financial assistance awards to bridge the gap between the cost of tuition and a family’s ability to pay.
Important Things to Know Before Applying
Families are expected to consider all their resources, including external ones such as potential contributions from relatives and scholarships, before seeking financial assistance. This allows us to prioritize families that do not have those extended networks and financial supports.
Parents must regard paying tuition as a priority, and both parents are expected to contribute to their children’s tuition through full employment and other income sources.
In families where one parent is not working outside of the home, we ask for a written explanation of their employment status. Belmont Day’s financial assistance budget will not be used to subsidize choices made by parents seeking graduate studies, business ventures, or opting not to work when dependents are school-aged.
If granted admission, families of students receiving financial assistance must submit a new application every year.
Applying for Financial Assistance
We partner with Clarity in our financial assistance application process. Clarity offers a variety of resources, including webinars and videos, that will help you navigate the application process and completion of the online application form.
Use these links to access resources that will guide you through the process:
Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide English version
Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide Spanish version
Clarity Family Application Guide English version
Clarity Family Application Guide Spanish version
Getting Started
Please go to the Clarity application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity application is also mobile-friendly, so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. 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.
Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity application, as Belmont Day requires you to upload your 2023 tax documents in April upon accepting an offer of admission.
The deadline for completing the financial aid application, including relevant supplemental documents, is January 30, 2024.
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.
In addition, Clarity offers webinars to learn more about the Clarity application. Webinar recordings will be available.
September 19 – 6:30 p.m. Eastern
September 20 – 7:00 p.m. Pacific
October 18 – 6:30 p.m. Eastern
October 19 – 7:00 p.m. Pacific
Current Belmont Day Families
Current Belmont Day families that are newly applying for assistance must notify the director of financial assistance of their intent to apply by November 14, 2023. Current Belmont Day families who are newly applying or reapplying for financial assistance must complete their application by December 11, 2023.
Financial Assistance FAQs
Who needs to complete the financial assistance application?
Belmont Day expects all parents to contribute to a student’s educational expenses.
In the case of divorce or separation, the custodial parent (and spouse, if applicable) and non-custodial parent (and spouse, if applicable) must submit an application. This information is collected in order to determine the ability, not the willingness, of each parent to support their child’s education financially.
How are financial assistance awards calculated?
Belmont Day uses Clarity to process our financial assistance applications. Based on the financial information you provide through the application, Clarity provides an estimated amount your family can contribute to educational expenses. Among other things, Clarity takes into account:
- Income of all parents (and their spouses, if applicable)
- Family assets
- Number of dependents
- Number of children in tuition-charging schools
All financial assistance decisions are made by a committee to ensure consistency and equity of awards.
Do I have to reapply for financial assistance each year?
Yes, financial assistance awards are recalculated annually. Families must complete the Clarity application every year to establish need for the next academic year.
Will my financial assistance award remain the same as long as my child attends Belmont Day?
Families complete a new financial assistance application each year to establish need for the following academic year. Assuming that you have not had significant changes to your income, assets, family size, or family structure, the percentage of assistance that you receive will likely remain consistent each year. We award assistance to our returning families before our prospective families, so it is critical that your application is submitted by the deadline so we can continue to prioritize your family’s award. We encourage current Belmont Day families to communicate with the director of financial assistance throughout the year to make sure questions, concerns, and deadlines are addressed.
Why do I need to provide my 2023 tax documents in April upon accepting an offer of admission when you already have my prior years’ (2022) income information?
If a family’s income fluctuates significantly from the prior year, Belmont Day reserves the right to adjust to the original financial assistance award shared with our offer of admission in March.
Do you provide assistance with After School Program fees?
Yes, families that are granted a financial assistance award are also eligible to receive assistance with After School Program fees. We apply the same percentage of assistance that applies to tuition to discount After School Program fees.
Can I apply for financial assistance after my child has been granted admission?
We allocate funds from our financial assistance budget first to families who qualify for assistance and whose children have been granted admission. Waiting to apply for assistance after an offer of admission is not encouraged since funds will have been allocated by then, and our budget will not be able to accommodate late requests. Priority is given to families who meet our financial assistance application deadline.
Will we be considered for financial assistance if my spouse stays home to care for our younger child?
Belmont Day recognizes the challenges of raising young children, so in calculating our financial assistance awards, we allow one parent to remain home until the youngest child is of preschool age. When all children in a family are of school age, it is our expectation that both parents be working full-time in order to be considered for financial assistance. We encourage families to reach out to Director of Financial Assistance Elena Jay to discuss their individual circumstances.
After School Tuition
After School for All Grades
Trimester 1, Session A: September 6 to November 21, 2023
Trimester 2, Session B: November 27, 2023 to March 8, 2024
Trimester 3, Session C: March 11 to June 10, 2024
| Monday to Thursday 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Session A | Session B | Session C |
| 1 day per week | $232 | $261 | $273 |
| 2 days per week | $464 | $522 | $546 |
| 3 days per week | $696 | $783 | $818 |
| 4 days per week | $928 | $1,044 | $1,091 |
| Monday to Thursday 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Session A | Session B | Session C |
| 1 day per week | $522 | $587 | $614 |
| 2 days per week | $1,044 | $1,175 | $1,227 |
| 3 days per week | $1,566 | $1,762 | $1,841 |
| 4 days per week | $2,088 | $2,349 | $2,454 |
| Monday to Thursday 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. | Session A | Session B | Session C |
| 1 day per week | $290 | $326 | $341 |
| 2 days per week | $580 | $653 | $682 |
| 3 days per week | $870 | $979 | $1,022 |
| 4 days per week | $1,160 | $1,305 | $1,363 |
| Fridays only | Session A | Session B | Session C |
| 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. | $696 | $766 | $766 |
| 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. | $1,218 | $1,340 | $1,340 |
Transportation
Rates and Routes for the 2023-24 School Year
Belmont Day School currently offers two bus lines for student transportation to and from school five days a week. Families have options about the frequency of use. For questions about bus service, please contact bus coordinator Anderson Santos.
Frequency
| 5 days round-trip | $4,500 |
| 4 days round-trip | $3,600 |
| 5 days one-way, morning or afternoon travel | $3.000 |
| 4 days one-way, morning or afternoon travel | $2,400 |
Bus Routes and Stops
Boston
Daily Morning First Pick Up: 6:30 a.m. | Monday to Thursday Last Return: 6 p.m. | Friday Return: 5 p.m.
- Stop: 85 Wellington Hill
- Stop: 10 Stanton Street
- Stop: 15 Saxton Street
- Stop: 2 Morrissey Boulevard
- Stop: 62 Peninsula Place
- Destination: Belmont Day School
Cambridge
Daily Morning First Pick Up: 6:50 a.m. | Monday to Thursday Final Return: 5:22 p.m. | Friday Return: 4:22 p.m.
- Stop: Somerville Avenue @ Central Avenue
- Stop: Inman Square (Cambridge Street at Prospect Street)
- Stop: Porter Square (Massachusetts Avenue at Walden Street)
- Stop: Wendell Street (Wendell Street at Oxford Street)
- Stop: Linnaean Street and Avon Hill Street
- Stop: 33 Huron Avenue
- Stop: Huron Avenue at Sparks Street
- Stop: Huron Avenue at Lakeview Avenue
- Stop: 219 Grove Street
- Destination: Belmont Day School
Belmont Residents
The Town of Belmont offers bus transportation to Belmont Day students for a fee. For more information and to register, visit the Belmont Public Schools website.
Carpools and Ridesharing
We encourage parents to set up carpools to ease traffic conditions on and around campus and save time and resources. The school directories are available on the Veracross Parent Portal, and they provide an easy way to find households < 1 mile away for arranging a carpool.
Please note that Uber and Lyft require all riders and users to be 18 years of age or older. Belmont Day School will not dismiss students to rideshare drivers.
Walking
Students in grades seven and eight (and their siblings) may leave campus on foot at the end of the school day if parents have provided permission in writing.
