The Tuition Adjustment fund for the 2025-2026 school year is fully disbursed.
Tuition Adjustment will open up again in the winter of 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year. Very limited funding may be available for incoming grades students joining small classes for the 2025-2026 school year. Please contact [email protected] to learn more about applying for this funding.
The Tuition Adjustment program addresses the needs of families who are unable to pay full tuition.
Tuition Adjustment is available to all students from 1st to 8th grade. Very limited funding is available for our Early Childhood programs.
There are no discounts or adjustments for fees, or extended care programs.
All awards are subject to funding and based on need.
Tuition Adjustment is available to all students from 1st to 8th grade. Very limited funding is available for our Early Childhood programs.
There are no discounts or adjustments for fees, or extended care programs.
All awards are subject to funding and based on need.
2025-2026 Application Process
Application Timeline for Returning Families
Application Timeline for New Families
- Families need to be enrolled or to have applied for admission to OWS before applying for Tuition Adjustment. If you would like to start the enrollment process, please visit our admission page for information.
- Apply online with FAST. Complete their Financial Aid Application being sure your entries match your tax return when applicable. Pay the FAST application fee.
- Upload your tax document directly to FAST. You will need the most recent tax year.
Application Timeline for Returning Families
- Priority Application Deadline: February 15, 2025
- Adjustment Offers are considered in the order received and the process typically takes 3 weeks from the receipt of a THOROUGH and COMPLETE application. Incomplete applications create delays.
- Adjustment Offers are sent electronically only. Adjustment Offer notifications contain deadlines for acceptance or appeal of Tuition Adjustment offers. Offers not accepted or appealed by the deadline are returned to the TA pool.
Application Timeline for New Families
- Tuition Adjustment applications for new students are due at time of contract.
- Applications received after March 31, 2025 will be considered for financial aid until funds are no longer available.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Tuition Adjustment (TA)?
- Who can apply?
- Are there any costs to apply for TA?
- Should I submit tax documents from last year or the previous year?
- Will our family qualify for TA?
- What is a typical TA award amount?
- How is Tuition Adjustment determined?
- Who will see our TA application?
- Will applying for TA affect our application/admission?
- Do we have to re-apply each year?
- How do separated or divorced parents apply?
- What about non-working parents?
- Why is there a month between the application deadline and award offers?
- Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
What is Tuition Adjustment (TA)?
Tuition Adjustment is a financial award, deducted from a child's tuition. The Tuition Adjustment Program is designed to bridge the gap between tuition and the amount families can afford.
Tuition Adjustment is a financial award, deducted from a child's tuition. The Tuition Adjustment Program is designed to bridge the gap between tuition and the amount families can afford.
Who can apply?
Families currently attending OWS and families who have applied for admission. We accept applications from all grade levels, with the priority given to students in the grades.
Families currently attending OWS and families who have applied for admission. We accept applications from all grade levels, with the priority given to students in the grades.
Are there any costs to apply for TA?
FAST charges a $60 fee. This fee is paid during the online application process. No fees are charged by the school to apply for TA.
FAST charges a $60 fee. This fee is paid during the online application process. No fees are charged by the school to apply for TA.
Should I submit tax documents from last year or the previous year?
Documents from last year should be submitted if they have already been completed. Previous year documents are allowed, but if you have changes between the two years that might affect your eligibility, please submit the most current documents.
Documents from last year should be submitted if they have already been completed. Previous year documents are allowed, but if you have changes between the two years that might affect your eligibility, please submit the most current documents.
Will my family qualify for TA?
The best way to determine your eligibility is to submit an application and proceed through the process. Due to the variety of financial circumstances, it is impossible for us to give clear guidelines. Despite this, we get lots of requests for a guideline. The FAST system takes into account typical living expenses calculated specifically in our region, understanding that school tuition is not the only reasonable expense for a family. The system assesses income, expenses, assets and liabilities, and makes a recommendation for an award based on the amount of money within a family's budget that could be reasonably allocated to tuition. A good rule of thumb is: if in doubt, apply. It costs very little, and because so many factors are considered, it is always worth going through the process. It is important to understand that there is no specific income level at which a family will not qualify for financial aid.
The best way to determine your eligibility is to submit an application and proceed through the process. Due to the variety of financial circumstances, it is impossible for us to give clear guidelines. Despite this, we get lots of requests for a guideline. The FAST system takes into account typical living expenses calculated specifically in our region, understanding that school tuition is not the only reasonable expense for a family. The system assesses income, expenses, assets and liabilities, and makes a recommendation for an award based on the amount of money within a family's budget that could be reasonably allocated to tuition. A good rule of thumb is: if in doubt, apply. It costs very little, and because so many factors are considered, it is always worth going through the process. It is important to understand that there is no specific income level at which a family will not qualify for financial aid.
What is a typical TA award amount?
Olympia Waldorf School strives to bridge the gap between tuition and what families can afford. Typically, the school can offer up to fifty percent of tuition, not fees. We work with each family individually to determine if there is a possibility of awarding additional assistance based on need.
Olympia Waldorf School strives to bridge the gap between tuition and what families can afford. Typically, the school can offer up to fifty percent of tuition, not fees. We work with each family individually to determine if there is a possibility of awarding additional assistance based on need.
How is Tuition Adjustment determined?
FAST collects information on income, assets and expenses. Income may be wages or business income. Assets are also considered and include items such as homes, savings accounts, retirement, etc. Assets are weighted and a percentage may be added to funds available, increasing a family's "income" for the year. Family expenses, including a system-calculated amount for food and basic expenses, is subtracted from the families income to give an amount available for spending. Again, this amount is weighted and a portion is allotted for tuition. If this amount is greater than tuition, no award is granted. If this amount is less than tuition, an award is issued for the difference, up to fifty percent of tuition.
FAST collects information on income, assets and expenses. Income may be wages or business income. Assets are also considered and include items such as homes, savings accounts, retirement, etc. Assets are weighted and a percentage may be added to funds available, increasing a family's "income" for the year. Family expenses, including a system-calculated amount for food and basic expenses, is subtracted from the families income to give an amount available for spending. Again, this amount is weighted and a portion is allotted for tuition. If this amount is greater than tuition, no award is granted. If this amount is less than tuition, an award is issued for the difference, up to fifty percent of tuition.
Who will see our TA application?
OWS commits to keeping your financial information and tuition adjustment award confidential. All financial information submitted will reviewed only by the Tuition Adjustment Committee, and the award amount will be visible to the enrollment manager and business manager on contracts and through payment processing.
OWS commits to keeping your financial information and tuition adjustment award confidential. All financial information submitted will reviewed only by the Tuition Adjustment Committee, and the award amount will be visible to the enrollment manager and business manager on contracts and through payment processing.
Will applying for TA affect our application/admission?
No, applying for TA does not affect your application process or admission to the school. Admission to the school is determined without any consideration of finances. If your child is accepted as a student at the school, a full tuition contract would be issued and an award of tuition adjustment would come separately.
No, applying for TA does not affect your application process or admission to the school. Admission to the school is determined without any consideration of finances. If your child is accepted as a student at the school, a full tuition contract would be issued and an award of tuition adjustment would come separately.
Do we have to re-apply each year?
Yes, each year our families must reapply for Tuition Adjustment. You must also create a new account in FAST each year. You cannot use your username and password from the previous year. Returning families are given priority funding if they apply by the application deadline.
Yes, each year our families must reapply for Tuition Adjustment. You must also create a new account in FAST each year. You cannot use your username and password from the previous year. Returning families are given priority funding if they apply by the application deadline.
How do separated or divorced parents apply?
We expect that both parents will apply for Tuition Adjustment. FAST will keep your financial information separate and confidential. The school makes the same commitment. Tuition Adjustment is based on the ability to pay, rather than the willingness to pay, so both parents' income must be taken into consideration.
We expect that both parents will apply for Tuition Adjustment. FAST will keep your financial information separate and confidential. The school makes the same commitment. Tuition Adjustment is based on the ability to pay, rather than the willingness to pay, so both parents' income must be taken into consideration.
What about non-working parents?
There are different reasons for a parent or guardian to not be working. In some cases, they may be the caregiver for another child or a parent. Sometimes they are disabled and received disability instead. In these cases, income is taken as provided in the FAST application. In the case where a parent or guardian is a homemaker by choice rather than need, FAST inputs an income equal to approximately 20 hours per week at minimum wage.
There are different reasons for a parent or guardian to not be working. In some cases, they may be the caregiver for another child or a parent. Sometimes they are disabled and received disability instead. In these cases, income is taken as provided in the FAST application. In the case where a parent or guardian is a homemaker by choice rather than need, FAST inputs an income equal to approximately 20 hours per week at minimum wage.
Why is there a delay between the application deadline and award offers?
The Tuition Adjustment Committee must allow time for FAST to verify that each family's application matches their tax return and to make other related calculations. We allow at least 2 weeks for that process. After that, the committee meets to work through all the applications and then our Business Administrator must input and issue awards. It is possible that you may receive your award letter sooner than one month, but occasionally the process can take longer even with all of the tax documentation correctly submitted. Thank you for your patience!
The Tuition Adjustment Committee must allow time for FAST to verify that each family's application matches their tax return and to make other related calculations. We allow at least 2 weeks for that process. After that, the committee meets to work through all the applications and then our Business Administrator must input and issue awards. It is possible that you may receive your award letter sooner than one month, but occasionally the process can take longer even with all of the tax documentation correctly submitted. Thank you for your patience!
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
Please contact us at [email protected]
Please contact us at [email protected]
