Tuition & Financial Aid

The Spence School has made a strong commitment through the financial aid program to enroll students who show intellectual promise regardless of their economic situation. Financial aid allows enrollment of the best students across the socio-economic spectrum and helps create a more diverse student body. It makes for a teaching and learning experience that is much stronger.

Nearly 20% of our students receive financial aid. Grants are given on the basis of need, and each case receives individual consideration based on information provided by the family and School and Student Services (SSS). Grants currently range from $8,000 to $60,230 depending on need. Every family is expected to make a financial contribution towards tuition. Spence currently offers an annual, semi-annual and monthly payment plan. Access to the SSS Family Portal for 2023-2024 academic year will be available on September 1, 2022. Families must file financial aid applications for each year the student attends Spence. Financial aid applications are also due by December 1, 2022.

More About Financial Aid at Spence

To learn more about matters that the Financial Aid Committee takes into consideration in establishing financial assistance for families and about expenses (incidentals) that are included in your financial aid package, please use the following links:
We would be delighted to speak to you in person to answer any questions you may have about Financial Aid or to provide clarification. Please email Melissa Sanchez at msanchez@spenceschool.org or Susan Parker at sparker@spenceschool.org to schedule a phone call.

Tuition 2022-2023

Tuition (all grades): $60,880
(includes books, lunch and class trips)

Parents’ Association Dues (per family): $50

Registration Fee: $75

Class Dues (per child): $75

Tuition Payment Schedule

Semi-annual payments are to be paid in accordance with the following schedule:
March 1, 2022: 20% of total tuition
June 1, 2022: 70% of total
November 1, 2022: 10% of total

Applying for Financial Aid

List of 2 items.

  • Financial Aid Application Process

    All families must fill out the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) online at School and Student Services between September 1 and December 1.

    Applications that are submitted late will be placed on a financial aid waitlist.

    In the case of divorce or two parents living separately, each parent must complete a separate PFS form. In addition, please submit the following to SSS:
    • A copy of last year’s W-2 and/or 1099 tax forms
    • A copy of last year’s U.S. Individual or Joint Tax Return (Form 1040) including all schedules
    • If appropriate to your family’s circumstances, please submit a copy of your child’s last 1040 tax form
    • If appropriate to your family’s circumstances, please submit a copy of the SSS Business/Farm Form

    If accepted, submit the following to SSS by June 1
    • A copy of this year’s W-2 and/or 1099 tax forms
    • A copy of this year’s U.S. Individual or Joint Tax Return (Form 1040) including all schedules

  • Additional Information

    Based on the information supplied on the PFS, The School and Student Service for Financial Aid prepares a general recommendation about a family’s ability to pay. Copies of the PFS and the RFC are then sent to the school. The school’s Financial Aid Committee uses the estimate in the RFC as a guideline in making awards, taking into consideration any extenuating circumstances in each family.

    • If a family does not file a 1040 Form, the Financial Aid Office should be notified.
    • Parents are asked to keep photocopies of any information submitted to SSS or to Spence so that they will easily be able to answer any questions that might arise.
    • Financial aid cannot be granted unless all the information requested is received by the deadline
    • It is assumed that parents will contribute to their children’s education to the extent that they are able. All parents will be asked to make some contribution; 20% of the tuition is due with the signed contract.
    • Applications for aid cannot be considered until all past school bills have been paid in full.
    • While the intent is to offer assistance to every enrolled student who demonstrates need, the school’s ability to do so in any year depends on the availability of funds and the number of applicants.
    • The names of recipients of financial aid are not broadly disclosed. Financial aid information is confidential. Only those school departments that process financial aid contracts and budgets have access to the list of grant recipients.

CONTACT Financial Aid

For more information about Financial Aid, please call the Admissions Office at 212-710-8140.
The Spence School adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation and national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship or athletic and other school-administered programs.

Middle & Upper School

22 East 91st Street 
New York, NY 10128

Lower School

56 East 93rd Street 
New York, NY 10128
212-289-5940
The Spence School, a private all-girls school located on the Upper East Side of New York City, offers a rigorous liberal arts study for diverse students in Grades K-12.

© Spence School 2017