Affording a JMSG Education

Julia Morgan School for Girls is committed to creating a school community that is accessible to everyone. Economic diversity enriches the educational opportunity for all families. 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.

Learn more about

List of 6 frequently asked questions.

  • Flexible Tuition Program & Philosophy

    Thanks to donations from families, alumna, and friends of the School, JMSG offers flexible tuition to families based upon demonstrated need. JMSG administers a Flexible Tuition program that supports approximately 1/3 of our students. Understanding that a JMSG education is a significant investment in your child's future, the School's Flexible Tuition Committee reviews, evaluates, and determines a fair assessment of a family's ability to afford an outstanding education for your child.

    Tuition covers only a portion of the full cost of a JMSG education. Therefore, even a student determined to be ineligible for flexible tuition is, in fact, being underwritten by the school's endowment and generous gifts from families, alumnae, and friends. JMSG encourages families with limited means to apply for flexible tuition, keeping in mind that the primary obligation for financing a student's education rests solely with the family and all avenues available to that family before approaching the School for assistance. The School further expects a family to make significant adjustments in the use of its discretionary resources and lifestyle choices and access ancillary resources available through extended family, work, and local organizations. In every instance, the Flexible Tuition Committee requires evidence that a family's commitment to their child's education is a priority over ancillary lifestyle choices.

    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 called the 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 before the application deadline.

  • Computation of Family Contribution

    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.

  • Divorced, Separated, Non-Traditional Families

    Flexible tuition decisions are made based on the “total family” basis. JMSG maintains a philosophy that requires active 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. 

  • Non-Working or Under-Employed Parents

    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.

    The primary responsibility for financing an education rests with the parents of the students. 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.

  • Multiple Tuition Charging Schools

    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.

  • Other Considerations

    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 chosen to 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.

FAQs

List of 19 frequently asked questions.

Questions about tuition or Flexible Tuition?

Laurie Rothermel, Enrollment Manager
510.632.6000 x103
lrothermel@juliamorganschool.org

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year is $33,050*. All program and field trip expenses included.

Additional fees:
  • $100 non-refundable application fee
  • One-time new student enrollment fee of $1,065*
  • Technology fee of $350 per year
  • After School Options
* Tuition and fee rates are subject to change annually. Typically tuition changes 4-6% per year.

Flexible Tuition Deadlines

SSS Application Deadline: Friday, January 14, 2019

Supporting 2019 Tax Documents Deadline:
New Families: March 2020 
Returning Families: April 2020

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