How are Admissions and Financial Aid related? The two processes are completely separate. All students must complete the admissions process and be accepted to the Kiski School prior to application for financial aid. Candidates for financial aid are referred to the financial aid chairman who collects all pertinent forms. (Back to top)How is financial aid funded? Tuition and fees do not cover the entire cost of educating a boy at Kiski. Therefore, every student, at least in theory, receives financial aid. The difference between what a family pays in tuition, and the actual cost of a boy's education comes from the benevolence of our alumni, families, grants, and other annual giving and bequeaths.
Kiski is an independent school, and receives no state or government funds to support the financial aid budget. To endow the budget, the school depends upon the generosity of its constituencies, such as alumni, parents, and friends. The school budgets a certain amount each year for financial aid, and once that amount is allocated, no more is available. Therefore, it is wise to apply for financial aid as early as possible.
(Back to top)Does application for financial aid affect admissions? Admission decisions are based solely upon a student’s academic qualifications. No applicant will be denied admission to The Kiski School because of financial need. The amount of financial aid awarded is based on a family’s financial need and funds available. (Back to top)How are my finances evaluated? School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS) is an independent organization that evaluates families’ ability to afford tuition. SSS provides the school with an analysis of the information supplied by the family. The analysis is used to compute the amount of tuition the family should be able to contribute toward tuition. The analysis is the primary tool that The School uses to decide the amount of financial aid granted. Unusual circumstances of each family situation are acknowledged and considered by the Financial Aid Committee in its final decision. However, the guiding principle of The Kiski School is the fair distribution of the limited financial aid funds available. (Back to top)Is any other information needed in order for an award to be made? In order for an award to be made, in addition to the report from SSS, The Kiski School requires that each family submit a signed copy of previous year's 1040 and all accompanying schedules. We also require a copy of all W-2s for the previous year. The financial aid chairman must receive all of these forms before any award will be made. (Back to top)What if I am already at the school but have never applied for financial aid? The Kiski School accepts financial aid applications from returning families who have not received financial aid in the past on the same basis as any other family requesting financial aid. The same deadlines apply to all returning students. (Back to top)If I currently receive financial aid do I have to reapply each year? Yes. A family must make application for financial aid each year and complete a new Parents’ Financial Statement.
Any student currently receiving need-based financial aid may reapply as long as all current financial obligations to the school have been met. No award will be made for the following year until all bills from the previous year have been paid. While a family must reapply for financial aid each year, one may reasonably expect to receive some assistance if a grant was given the prior year and if the family’s financial circumstances are relatively similar to the prior year. (Back to top)Who has access to my financial information? The school is committed to protecting the privacy of its families, therefore, all information received by the Financial Aid Chairman is held in the strictest confidence. Financial information is never shared with the Board of Trustees, donors, faculty/staff members or anyone else. (Back to top)Who is on the financial aid committee? The Financial Aid Committee is comprised of the Headmaster, the Associate Headmaster who chairs the Committee, the Business Manager, and the Director of Admissions.
The Committee strives to establish uniform criteria for evaluating parental ability to pay the total educational expenses of the student. The ultimate responsibility for determining the amount of the grant offered as financial aid rests with the financial aid committee of The Kiski School. (Back to top)Are there options for family loans through lending institutions if I am unable to afford the tuition? Yes. The business office has several brochures on low interest loans from lending institutions that are available to families whose children attend independent school.
Examples of those options are:
PrepGate Education Loan SLM Financial Corporation Key Education Resources Achiever Loan
These lenders may help you to bridge the gap between your financial aid grant and your expected family contribution. Contact Mr. Greg Forsythe, Kiski's business manager, at 724-639-8026 for loan applications. (Back to top)How and when should I apply? It is helpful to have completed your Federal Income Tax forms from the previous year, but not necessary. However, it is required that the 1040, all schedules, and W-2s be received by the school before an award will be made. It is very important to complete the PFS form and submit it to SSS (Princeton, NJ) as soon as possible and before the deadlines as outlined by the school for considerations. (See timetable) The SSS process takes about 4-6 weeks after the receipt of your PFS. Kiski will be sent the report of estimated family contribution, which must be on file for the application to be considered. Failure to meet the deadlines established by the financial aid committee will place your application on a waiting list for consideration. (Back to top)
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