Julia Morgan School for Girls is committed to creating a school community that is accessible to everyone. To achieve this goal, the school offers flexible tuition to students whose families apply and demonstrate a financial need. The Julia Morgan School Flexible Tuition Program is open to all families who participate in the application process. Families submit information about their financial resources, and the school uses standard criteria and NAIS best practices to determine flexible tuition awards.
In order to determine a family's eligibility to receive flexible tuition in a fair and equitable manner, JMSG requires all applicants to complete the Parents Financial Statement (PFS) administered by a third party, School and Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS), for each year of matriculation. Despite our dedication to helping those who demonstrate need, there are always more students who qualify than funding available. Therefore, we encourage families to apply as soon as possible and submit before the application deadline.
Tuition covers only a portion of the full cost of a JMSG education. Thanks to donations from families, alum, and friends of the school, JMSG is able to offer flexible tuition to families. JMSG's flexible tuition program supports approximately 32% of our students. Understanding that a JMSG education is a significant investment in their child's future, the Flexible Tuition Committee reviews, evaluates, and determines a fair assessment of a family's ability to afford an outstanding education for their child.
Tuition and Fees
JMSG Tuition for the 2020-2021 academic year is $35,050.* All program and field trip expenses included.
Additional fees:
One-time new student enrollment fee of $1,065
Technology fee of $350 per year
Scholars Studio, an optional afterschool activity
* Tuition and fee rates are subject to change annually. Typically tuition increases 4-6% per year.
SSS is a third-party need analysis service that relies on economic factors to determining the eligibility of families. The SSS, like JMSG, believes a family has the primary obligation to finance their child’s education. Once a family has applied for Flexible Tuition, SSS generates a Report of Family Contribution (RFC). JMSG then applies a Bay Area Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to determine a family's ability to pay. Flexible tuition decisions are made based on the “total family” basis. JMSG maintains a philosophy that requires participation of a student’s entire family in funding this educational opportunity. These expectations are in effect regardless of any legal agreements between family members, such as alimony agreements, pre-nuptial agreements, divorce, custody, or other similar agreements. In cases of co-habitation, JMSG considers the entire household income, whatever the legal status of the family may be. JMSG expects parents, guardians, domestic partners, and stepparents to play a critical role in financing their student’s education. JMSG assumes that all adult family members will work to contribute to the investment in a JMSG education. The Committee will input income for parents or guardians who choose not to work and adjust the RFC accordingly. Families with preschool-aged children or extraordinary situation should make the Committee aware of their circumstances and explain their choice in the additional notes section of the PFS. Parents returning to school or starting a business venture or changing jobs as a personal choice must realize that a resulting decrease in their family income will not be underwritten by JMSG. In many JMSG families both parents work in order to maintain income sufficient to support an independent school education for their children. It is unfair to ask these dual employed families to subsidize the educational cost of a family who chooses, for a desired lifestyle, not to work at a level their education and ability permit. If more than one child in a family attends a tuition-charging institution, JMSG strongly recommends families apply for aid at each of the institutions their children attend. JMSG is unable to subsidize tuition for other tuition charging schools of any type, including college. JMSG does not consider tuition paid for children beyond the undergraduate level such as a master and doctoral degrees when determining eligibility for aid.
Business All parents who own a business will be required to upload all current business tax returns. Business owners will also be asked to furnish income statements, balance sheets and any other information relevant to the business. We do not consider business or rental depreciation or loss in the calculation of financial need. Depreciation does not reflect an actual cash disbursement or loss.
Student Assets/ Trusts/ College Funds/Inheritance Savings, investments, trust funds, 529 funds or other assets in a student’s name or held for a student for any reason, or restricted in any way, are considered available resources for use in funding a student’s education at JMSG.
Home Equity The SSS need analysis considers the equity a family has in their primary residence and other assets. It is not our intent to expect parents to sell their home or to take home equity to support a child’s education unless the balance of equity is significant. However, if a family has chosento direct discretionary income toward the acquisition of assets, rather than toward the cost of education, they will be expected to direct a larger portion of current income towards educational expenses.
Business Startups JMSG will not underwrite a parent’s decision to finance a startup company, and in that same light, we cannot supplement income loss from a business.
To start the process follow the SSS by NAIS application link on our website. Online e-mail and telephone helpline is provided at sss@nais.orgor 800.344.8328. Additional help is available here.
First, consider the full cost of an independent school education. If you cannot cover expenses out of income and judicious use of assets, consider your other options, such as tapping home equity or assistance from relatives. If you are counting on gifts from relatives, it is important to discuss with them whether or not they can maintain that help over the course of your child’s attendance at JMSG.
SSS uses a methodology devised over many years to compute a family’s ability to pay for educational expenses for all children. SSS considers total financial situation including the Bay Area's cost of living. SSS is a service provided by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Many NAIS schools use SSS for financial aid analysis.
Admission acceptance letters sent on March 17, 2021, will include a separate response regarding Flexible Tuition. Responses to families will fall into two categories: an offer of Flexible Tuition and the amount or a notification that the family does not qualify for Flexible Tuition.
Yes. Each student’s need is recalculated annually. Therefore, parents are required to complete the application and upload the required documentation each year. Provided family circumstances remain the same and the school’s resources can continue to support the program to the same extent, the school intends to fund the student for three years.
No. The Flexible Tuition award covers the cost of tuition, classroom books and materials, and field trips. Extra costs such as The Scholars Studio (after school study hall) are not included.
Yes. Flexible Tuition applications received after the stated deadlines will be processed after all applications received on time have been processed. Adhering to all deadline dates is essential.
JMSG Flexible Tuition amounts range from a small percentage of the tuition to almost full tuition. All families are expected to pay a portion of the tuition.
Yes. Please give your request for a second review in writing to the Flexible Tuition Committee. Fill out a detailed Monthly Cash Flow Report and provide additional documents to substantiate your appeal.