Tuition & Affording WRA

An investment in your child's future.

Western Reserve Academy is committed to admitting talented and motivated students, regardless of family resources. We believe the cost of education should not deter you from applying. Each year, we award more than $8 million in need-based financial aid. We also offer merit-based scholarships — awards range from up to $50,000 for our boarders and $30,000 for our day students. We are here to help you determine the best options for your family as you consider this very important decision.

TUITION

FEES

Payment Plans

Merit Scholarships

All new applicants to WRA are considered for all available merit scholarships. There is no separate application required. Students will be selected based on academic achievement and potential, positive contributions to their school or community, strong character and leadership skills. All students who complete their application for admission by the appropriate deadlines (day and boarding) will receive priority consideration for all merit scholarship levels. Students who complete their application after the stated deadlines may still be considered for the 1826 Scholarship, pending space and availability. Merit Scholarship recipients will be notified in their acceptance letter. Need-based financial aid is available in addition to a merit scholarship, and a student may be awarded both.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

The James Ellsworth Scholarship:
This scholarship is named for James Ellsworth, WRA class of 1868. Mr. Ellsworth was a pioneering philanthropist instrumental in securing the financial future of WRA.
Boarding - $50,000
Day - $30,000

The Helen Jacobsen Scholarship: This scholarship is named after former English and French faculty member, Helen Jacobsen, who taught at WRA during the early 1900's. Students who submit their application by the stated application deadline will receive priority consideration for this scholarship.
Boarding - up to $30,000
Day - up to $15,000

The 1826 Scholarship: This scholarship is named in honor of WRA's founding year and the continuation of the school's longstanding commitment to access for talented students. While we encourage students to submit their application by the stated application deadline, we recognize that the decision to apply to Western Reserve Academy may be made at different points within the admission timeline for each family. While students that submit their application by the stated deadline will still receive priority consideration for the 1826 Scholarship, students applying after the deadline may be considered, pending space and availability.
Boarding - up to $30,000
Day - up to $15,000

The Ohio Pioneer Scholarship: This scholarship will be awarded to the top boarding applicant from Ohio.
Boarding - up to $50,000

Financial Aid

We encourage families to apply for financial assistance where needed. WRA awards more than $8 million in need-based financial aid to 50 percent of the student body each year. If you are offered admission, WRA puts forth every effort to make education affordable for you.

Need-based financial aid awards are not loans; they are grant awards that do not need to be repaid. WRA's financial aid budget is funded through the school's endowment.

WRA uses the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), which is created by the School & Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) for determining financial aid awards. Financial aid applications are due at the same time as admission applications:
Day applications - Jan. 15, 2021
Boarding applications - Feb. 12, 2021

Please read below for details about the financial aid application. These resources from SSS are especially helpful for navigating this process: Family Guide to Financial Aid and PFS Workbook.

APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID

WRA bases aid decisions on demonstrated need, which is defined as the difference between the amount of money a family can afford to contribute and the cost of tuition. The family's contribution is calculated according to information provided on the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), which is created by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).

To apply, please visit the SSS website and complete the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online. SSS opens their application process on October 2.

SSS LOGIN TO APPLY

Deadlines for submission are as follows:

Day Applicants - Due Jan. 15, 2021
Boarding Applicants - Due Feb. 12, 2021

Please note that our school's SSS code is 8110.

For Day applicants, submit a copy of your 2019 IRS 1040 and all supporting schedules for individuals as well as corporations, small businesses and partnerships, W-2s and 1099s for parents and/or step-parents to SSS for processing. If you own a business, please also upload all your business tax documents including, if applicable, Schedule C, Schedule K-1, and Schedule E. In addition to your 2019 tax documents, a copy of your final 2020 pay stub or other documentation of your 2020 income is required. This can be uploaded to your SSS application under additional documents and must be completed by January 15, 2021.

For Boarding applicants, in addition to your 2019 tax documents, copies of your 2020 IRS 1040 and all supporting schedules for individuals as well as corporations, small businesses and partnerships, W-2s and 1099s for parents and/or stepparents need to be submitted to SSS. If you own a business, please also upload all your business tax documents including, if applicable, Schedule C, Schedule K-1, and Schedule E. These need to be submitted by February 14, 2020.

Once processed by SSS, the results of your application will be visible to representatives of the WRA Financial Aid Committee. Any information that is provided to WRA will remain confidential. Whenever possible, financial aid decisions will be communicated concurrently with admission decisions.

WRA strongly encourages you to upload your financial documents to SSS. However, documents can be mailed with the required SSS cover sheet, located in the "My Documents" tab in the SSS Family Portal, to: (please allow up to 2 weeks for processing)

SSS by NAIS
Application Processing Center
P.O. Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368-449
(Overnight mail should be sent to 437 Turnpike St. / Canton, MA 02021)

HOW ARE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS DETERMINED?

WRA is committed to serving qualified students who are unable to afford full tuition. After a student has been accepted through the admission process, the Financial Aid Committee reviews completed financial aid files. Western Reserve Academy subscribes to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), which assesses and helps to determine a family’s need for assistance based on income, assets and reasonable expenses. In addition to using SSS, we require your previous year’s tax returns and all applicable schedules, to help determine the level of need. After determining a manageable family contribution, the committee determines a financial aid award and sends the award along with the admittance packet.

WILL OUR FINANCIAL AID CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR?

WHO QUALIFIES FOR FINANCIAL AID?

WHAT ABOUT CASES OF DIVORCE, SEPARATION AND SINGLE PARENTS?

In cases of divorce or separation, WRA requires information from both natural parents and any stepparents. Each parent must complete and submit a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS), the WRA supplemental financial aid form and a copy of their current IRS 1040 and all supporting schedules for individuals as well as corporations, small businesses and partnerships, W2s and 1099s. The family’s ability to contribute is based on both natural parents’ and any stepparent’s income and assets, bearing in mind responsibilities that stepparents may have for their own biological children.

DOES WRA OFFER FINANCIAL AID TO INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES?

Every one of our students has a success story to tell. We can't wait to tell yours.

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