Financial Aid FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Brearley uses a financial assistance platform called Clarity. Families must create a Clarity account and complete the financial aid application. Clarity will also guide families through authorizing the IRS to share a transcript of required tax documents. The application, which typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete, is mobile-friendly and available in Spanish. Step-by-step instructions for completing the financial assistance application can be found within the Family Application Guide on the Clarity platform.
The financial aid application fee is $65; it is automatically waived for families who qualify. Families who do not qualify for an automatic fee waiver and wish to request one may contact the office of Financial Assistance at financialaid@brearley.org.
For the 2025-2026 school year, 75% percent of Brearley’s financial assistance recipients had total household incomes over $100,000. The percentage of financial assistance given to these families ranged from 100% to 13% of tuition depending on several factors such as income, assets, family size and number of children attending a tuition charging school (ex. an independent school, parochial school, or college/university).
No, admissions decisions are made before financial assistance is awarded. In other words, applying for financial assistance does not impact our determination of your child’s admissibility to Brearley.
Yes, you are required to apply for financial assistance each year because we know a family’s financial standing can fluctuate. This can mean that a family might demonstrate the need for more or less aid from year to year. Unless there is a drastic shift in circumstances, families can anticipate receiving the same percentage of aid each year.
In rare cases, there may be a significant change in financial circumstance during the course of the school year. The School reserves emergency assistance to aid a family during these difficult times should the family demonstrate the need for financial support.
Yes, you should complete the financial assistance application process even if you are unsure you will qualify.
During the fall, the Director of Financial Assistance will host virtual webinars to explain how to apply for financial assistance at Brearley.
For immediate questions about Brearley’s financial aid program, you can email the Office of Financial Assistance at financialaid@brearley.org.