Tuition and Affordability

Making a Brearley Education Accessible

The investment in a Brearley education unfolds over a lifetime as students engage intellectually with the world, think critically and build relationships throughout and beyond their tenure. At Brearley, we believe that affordability starts with a comprehensive tuition, which supports all essential school programs, and a robust financial aid model to meet the additional needs of a family. In keeping with this mission, tuition for students K-12 in the 2023-2024 school year is $61,500 and supports the following:

List of 4 items.

  • $61,500

    Total Cost of Tuition in 2023-2024

  • $51,500

    Average Financial Assistance Grant

  • $7.8m

    $7.8m Total Financial Assistance Awarded

  • 20%

    Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Assistance

List of 9 items.

  • Grades 5-12 School Sponsored Overnight Trips

  • Grades K-12 Required Course Books and Supplies

  • Grades K-12 Lunch

  • Grades 5-8 After School Co-Curricular Classes

  • Grades 5-12 Clubs

  • Grades 7-12 After School Sports and Performing Arts Programs

  • Grades K-12 Field Trips

  • Grades 5-12 Orchestra & Chorus

  • Grades 5-9 Devices (Chromebooks and Laptops)

Additional Fees:

Language Immersion Trip
China Trip
India Trip
Maine Semester Program
Mountain School Semester Program
Alabama Trip
Athletic Gear
Instrument Rentals

Financial Assistance

The purpose of need-based financial assistance is to make a Brearley education possible for students who would not otherwise have the means to fully participate in our program. The School has historically been able to support every admitted family requiring financial assistance as part of its commitment to having an accessible education for talented students across socio-economic levels. We are grateful for the generosity of our community and the strength of our endowment, which have allowed us to award grants ranging from partial to nearly full tuition each year. In 2023-2024, Brearley will contribute over $7.8 million to 151 members (20%) of our student body, Classes K-XII.

List of 10 items.

  • Lower School After School Clubhouse

  • Travel Study Trips

  • Private Music Lessons

  • Instrument Rentals

  • Brooklyn Bus

  • Metro North Regional, LIRR, NJ Transit, Express Bus, Ferry Transportation

  • Club Trip Expenses (ie: Model Congress/Model UN Conferences)

  • Class Rings

  • Prom Attendance

  • Senior Spring Expenses

A Conscientious and Personalized Assessment

Brearley makes every effort to recognize the distinctiveness of each family’s situation and to award grants, which fully meet their demonstrated need. Current and applying families seeking tuition assistance are asked to complete an application every year through School and Student Service for Financial Assistance (SSS), a service affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), using Brearley's SSS code: 1795.

While every school assesses need based on a unique set of criteria, SSS provides committees with the tools necessary to conduct an equitable and consistent review. Many factors are taken into consideration, including, but not limited to the following:
  • All sources of income from each household
  • The number of children attending tuition-charging schools
  • Assets (investments, home equity, automobiles, etc.)
  • Credit card and educational debt
  • Mortgage/Rent
  • Employment status
  • Investment properties
  • Supplemental businesses
  • Specific forms of depreciation
  • Unreimbursed medical expenses
  • Costs associated with additional dependents

Any information pertaining to a family’s financial situation, including decisions, are confidential, and families are encouraged to communicate directly with the Director of Financial Assistance about any additional concerns or questions that might arise throughout the application process. 

New Applicants

List of 5 items.

  • STEP 1: Complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) - Due on December 15, 2023

    Click on the "Complete Your PFS" link to complete one Parent Financial Statement (PFS) even if you have multiple children applying for financial assistance at Brearley and/or other independent schools. 

    Custodial Parents/Guardians who have divorced, separated, or never married and live apart, must complete a separate PFS per household, in addition to uploading separate tax returns and signing the enrollment contract. 

    If one parent has had no involvement with the student for an extended period of time, the custodial parent should complete a     Parent/Guardian B waiver form and provide documentation of the situation.

    Brearley’s SSS code number is 1795.     We suggest that families request a Family Report for themselves, retain a copy of all worksheets as well as user names, passwords, and SSS identification numbers.

  • STEP 2: Upload the Brearley Family Budget Statement into SSS (optional)

    Outline additional circumstances of which you would like the Committee to be aware.

    → Monthly Family Budget (download)

  • STEP 3: Upload 2022 W2s, 2022 Federal Tax Returns, Business Forms, 1099s, and K1 documents (if applicable) into SSS - Due on December 15, 2023

    Families are encouraged to black out any social security numbers

    Upload each parent’s/guardian’s 2022 W-2 forms, 1099s, and K1s, as applicable

    Upload signed copies of joint or separate 2022 Federal Tax returns, including all schedules exactly as filed. Extensions are not permitted.

    Business owners must upload business tax returns, including 1099s and K1s, as applicable.

    Complete and Upload Form 4506-T lines 1A through 6A and line 9 with the years 2022 and 2023 requested; check the box above the signature; sign, but do not date the form. This form may be found online by clicking here.

  • Notification of Financial Assistance: Admission Notification Date

    While admission decisions are made separately from Financial Aid decisions, qualifying families will receive a notification about their financial assistance grant at the same time as their admission decision from the Office of Admission and Financial Assistance.

  • STEP 4: Upload 2023 W2s, 2023 Federal Tax Returns, Business Forms, and 1099 Forms (if applicable) into SSS - Due on March 1, 2024

    Families are encouraged to black out any social security numbers

    Upload each parent’s/guardian’s 2023 W-2 forms

    Upload signed copies of joint or separate 2023 Federal Tax returns, including all schedules exactly as filed. Extensions are not permitted.

    Business owners must upload business tax returns, including 1099s and K1s, as applicable.

    Families who choose to enroll at Brearley must confirm the award by uploading their signed 2023 State and Federal Income Tax forms including all schedules, W-2s, 1099s, and K1 documents into their account on SSS before April 15, 2024.

    Please note, The Financial Assistance Committee reserves the right to amend any award if 2023 tax returns do not accurately reflect the information provided on a family’s PFS.

Returning Applicants

List of 5 items.

  • STEP 1: Complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) - Due on November 15, 2023

    Click on the "Complete Your PFS" link to complete one Parent Financial Statement (PFS) even if you have multiple children applying for financial assistance at Brearley and/or other independent schools. 

    Custodial Parents/Guardians who have divorced, separated, or never married and live apart, must complete a separate PFS per household, in addition to uploading separate tax returns and signing the enrollment contract. 

    If one parent has had no involvement with the student for an extended period of time, the custodial parent should complete a     Parent/Guardian B waiver form and provide documentation of the situation.

    Brearley’s SSS code number is 1795. We suggest that families request a Family Report for themselves, retain a copy of all worksheets as well as user names, passwords, and SSS identification numbers.

  • STEP 2: Upload 2022 W2s, 2022 Federal Tax Returns, Business Forms, 1099s, and K1s (if applicable) into SSS - Due on December 15, 2023

    Families are encouraged to black out any social security numbers

    Upload each parent’s/guardian’s 2022 W-2 forms

    Upload signed copies of joint or separate 2022 Federal Tax returns, including all schedules exactly as filed. Extensions are not permitted.

    Business owners must upload business tax returns, including 1099s and K1s, as applicable.

    Complete and Upload Form 4506-T lines 1A through 6A and line 9 with the years 2022 and 2023 requested; check the box above the signature; sign, but do not date the form. 3. This form may be found online by clicking here.

  • STEP 3: Upload Last Paystub in 2022

  • STEP 4: Upload 2023 W2s, 2023 Federal Tax Returns, Business Forms, and 1099 Forms (if applicable) into SSS- Due on April 15, 2024

    Families are encouraged to black out any social security numbers.

    Upload signed copies of joint or separate 2023 Federal Tax returns, including all schedules exactly as filed. Extensions are not permitted.

    Business owners must upload business tax returns, including 1099s and K1s.

  • Notification of Financial Assistance: May 2024

    Returning families applying for the first time or reapplying for financial assistance will receive their notifications in the month of May. A family must sign the enrollment contract and pay the deposit for the upcoming school year in order for their financial assistance application to be considered.
The Brearley School is a K-XII independent day school for girls in New York City. Empowering girls of adventurous intellect to think critically and creatively.
610 East 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-8582 

590 East 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-8582