We understand that the decision to provide an independent school education represents a significant financial investment. Our desire is to make it possible for families to enroll their children at Dunham regardless of their economic circumstances. In order to partner with families and provide greater access to a Dunham education, we offer need-based tuition assistance and several payment plans. Other avenues of support included merit awards and the Virtus Scholarship Program for high achieving new students.
Take a moment to learn more about our tuition and fees, our financial assistance program, merit awards, and the Virtus Scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact our Admissions Office. We're here to assist you in making a Dunham education possible for your child.
Tuition and fees for the 2020-2021 school year are indicated below. Please contact the Admissions Office for a detailed explanation of tuition, fees, and payment options. Tuition and fees for the McKay Academic Center can be found here.
Upper School
Grades 9-12 - $19,725
Middle School
Grades 5-8 - $18,610
Lower School
Grades 2-4 - $16,985
First Grade - $15,190
Kindergarten - $13,670
PreK 4 - $12,110
PreK 3 - $10,550
Dunham Early Childhood Center
$12,000 (10-month contract)
$14,400 (12-month contract)
Re-enrollment fee (PK4-12) - $300; non-refundable; due on or before Jan. 31; increases to $550 after Jan. 31)
Technology fee (PK4-12) - $550
Dining Services - $500 (PK3/PK4); $820 (K-4); $1,030 (5-8); $1,130 (9-12)
Facilities Fee - $300 (PK3-12)
New Student Enrollment fee (K-12) - $750 (one-time, non-refundable fee for new students only; waived for children of alumni)
Option 1 - one-time payment due by March 20, 2021
Option 2 - payment in four (4) equal installments due March 20, April 20, May 20, and June 20, 2021
Option 3 - payment in equal monthly installments beginning the month following enrollment with the final payment due Feb. 20, 2022; please note that six percent interest is added to monthly payments (PK3-12 only)
An independent school education is a significant investment, requiring planning and often sacrifice on the part of parents. As a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), we strongly believe the family, to that the extent that they are able, is responsible for financing a child’s education. We do understand, however, that not every family has the means to cover the full cost of tuition. Therefore, we offer need-based tuition assistance for those who would otherwise be unable to consider enrolling their children at The Dunham School.
Financial need is evaluated by ISM's Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST), a service that provides schools with a third-party analysis and guidelines for making tuition assistance awards fairly and equitably. FAST considers a number of factors, including income and assets, and number of dependents. Allowances are made for living expenses, retirement, taxes, medical costs, and other unusual expenses. The FAST analysis serves as a guide for the school and is not a guarantee of an award amount. All tuition assistance decisions are made in-house by our Tuition Assistance Committee.
Tuition assistance is available for students in PK3-12th grade. It is not available for Dunham Early Childhood Center students. Families of all socioeconomic backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they have a need. We recommend applying for tuition assistance early as funds are limited and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Financial assistance awards are made only after a student has received on offer of admission to Dunham.
If you have questions about tuition assistance, please contact Michelle Pricer.
Please note: Tuition assistance is closed for the 2020-2021 school year. FAST will begin accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year on December 15, 2021.
To apply for tuition assistance, submit an online application to FAST along with the non-refundable $48 fee (payable by credit card). The priority deadline to apply is January 31, 2022.
TThe Virtus Scholarship Program at Dunham awards full-tuition merit scholarships to new students entering grades 8-10 who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, character, and leadership. Virtus Scholarships are based on individual merit, not financial need. All new students who believe they meet the eligibility requirements for the scholarship should apply. Candidates who are not awarded a Virtus Scholarship may be considered for a Merit Award and are also encouraged to apply for tuition assistance through our financial aid program. Please contact our Admissions Office if you have any questions about applying for the Virtus Scholarship.
Any new student entering grades 8-10 who meets the following criteria may be considered for a Virtus Scholarship:
The Merit Award Program at Dunham awards merit scholarships to new students entering grades 7-10 who have demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, character, and leadership. Award amounts vary and are determined by the Merit Scholarship Committee in partnership with the Division Head. All merit awards are subject to budget availability. Not every qualifying student will receive a merit award.
Any new student entering grades 7-10 who meets the following criteria may be considered for a Merit Award:
