TailorMAde Tuition, also known as indexed tuition or variable tuition, is a sliding scale tuition model that is designed to meet each family’s unique financial situation. Instead of a one-sized-fits-all tuition rate, families will pay what they can afford.

Anyone may apply for TailorMAde Tuition. TailorMAde Tuition is based on demonstrated need. Each family’s financial circumstance is unique and will be considered independently. Each year, MA will make a wide range of tuition decisions. We recognize that many families who might not expect to be eligible for “financial aid” may still qualify for TailorMAde Tuition. If in doubt, we suggest completing the TailorMAde Tuition application process. A slightly reduced tuition amount can open the door for a student to access an MA education.

To determine if a family qualifies for TailorMAde Tuition, The Montgomery Academy utilizes Clarity, a third party financial processor of tuition assistance applications for independent schools across the country. Clarity calculates a family’s ability to pay. This number is based on a calculation that takes into account many of the factors that make up a family’s overall financial picture, including but not limited to income, assets, household size, unusual expenses and family size. All sources of income are taken into consideration. After careful consideration, MA determines a TailorMAde Tuition amount for the family for the coming school year. We make every effort to partner with families who seek an MA education for their children. The TailorMAde Tuition Team evaluates each application in a fair, consistent and confidential manner. We take time to understand the nuances and unique circumstances of each family.

In addition to reducing the cost of an MA education for all families by distributing our fixed operating expenses across a larger number of tuition payers, TailorMAde Tuition also supports healthy rates of participation in our curricular and extracurricular offerings by welcoming more families to our school. TailorMAde Tuition helps us to surround all MA students with as many bright and hard-working children in the River Region as we can enroll.

No. Decisions regarding admission to the school and eligibility for TailorMAde Tuition are made independently of one another. The Admissions Committee decides on a student’s admissibility without regard to TailorMAde Tuition. Once the admission decision has been made, a student’s TailorMAde Tuition application is activated by the TailorMAde Tuition Team, which determines how best to allocate the TailorMAde Tuition available for new students in any given year.

TailorMAde Tuition is different from the traditional Financial Aid program found in many independent schools. This shift from “Financial Aid” to “TailorMAde Tuition” reflects MA’s commitment to maintaining a balanced, diverse, and inclusive school community by broadening the range of families who are able to afford an MA education.

No, only those families wishing to participate in the TailorMAde Tuition Program. If you do not participate in the TailorMAde Tuition Program, you will pay the full tuition rate for the year.