Tuition & Affordability

The CFS Tuition Committee takes great care to assess each family’s situation individually, looking at their entire financial profile. Many factors are reviewed and evaluated and include things such as assets, expenses, liabilities and debts, family size, and any unusual expenses. Since family circumstances vary widely, differences in financial circumstances other than income often result in families with similar incomes having different financial need.

Yes, any financial information submitted to TADS is held in strict confidence. All decisions concerning tuition are confidential agreements between a family and Carolina Friends School and we request that details of these agreements not be discussed publicly to preserve that confidentiality.

When we notify an applicant that we are able to offer them admission, the admission decision notification also includes all details concerning tuition and expenses.

In only very special circumstances can a family appeal for additional consideration of their application to have tuition adjusted. When there is additional financial information which would have an impact on a family’s financial profile, a formal, written appeal may be submitted through the Director of Enrollment.

No, applications for admission are evaluated by the Admission Committee separately and on their own merit. An applicant’s financial situation is not discussed in admission deliberations.

We steward our resources carefully to make a CFS education affordable to as many families as possible. However our capacity to provide adjusted tuition in a given year is limited. The School earmarks a generous yet finite amount of funds for supporting adjustments to tuition costs annually, but requests generally exceed available funds.

Every family invests in the work of the school through paying a portion of the tuition.

The School is happy to consider applications from returning families who have a significant change in their financial profile. Families who do not have an adjusted tuition rate during their initial year at CFS should not expect their tuition rate to be less in subsequent years unless they have experienced a significant change in circumstances; increased expenditures such as having an additional child in a tuition-paying school could qualify as a significant change in circumstances.

All families who wish to be considered for an adjusted tuition rate must apply each year. Given the same financial circumstances as in the prior year, a family can expect their contribution to remain proportionally the same.

We do not offer merit based scholarships. All adjustments to tuition are based on the financial profile submitted through TADS.

Additional revenue comes from some of our Extended Learning opportunities, as well as from the support of our greater community through Friends of Friends Annual Campaign and endowment support.

Please contact Nancy Hayes, Director of Enrollment (nhayes@cfsnc.org or 919.383.6602 x240). We welcome your questions and comments.