Financial Aid
The affordability of a Tallulah Falls School school education should not deter families from enrolling a talented, motivated student.
We are committed to making a quality, college-preparatory education financially viable. Annually, Tallulah Falls School awards more than $4 million in need-based financial aid to 75 percent of our students. Decisions about admissions and financial aid are made independently.
New & Returning Domestic Students
All families applying for new student admissions must complete the FACTS financial aid application.
All families applying for financial aid for returning students must submit required tax documents via the secure document upload.
New & Returning Dual Citizen/International Students
Student parents (citizens of the United States (nonfilers) or non-citizens) must complete the International Aid application annually.
Additionally, families will be required to upload a letter of employment from each parent's employer(s), including income, via the secure document upload. (Documents must be in English)
Policies and Procedures
I. Tuition Assistance Policy
A. Purpose
The overriding purpose of the tuition assistance program at Tallulah Falls School is to welcome qualified students who would not be able to attend without financial aid. TFS is committed to providing an education to students who desire an independent school environment, regardless of socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, or religious background. To fulfill these goals, TFS supports a generous need-based tuition assistance program. Academic merit scholarships are given to students at TFS regardless of a family's ability to pay. Academic merit scholarships are based upon the academic record of the student applicant.
B. Eligibility
Students qualify for aid based on demonstrated financial needs. To demonstrate need, families must complete the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. After the level of need is established, the Financial Aid Committee determines the award amount. Families must submit required documentation annually and be current with all school financial obligations to remain eligible for financial assistance.
In addition to need-based aid, scholarships are available to qualified students based on grade point average each calendar year.
For multi-student families not receiving financial assistance, a 25% discount per additional child is applied annually.
C. Parental Responsibility
The primary responsibility for financing a student's education rests with the family.
D. Admission Decision
TFS admits students that fit the criteria set by the Admissions Committee. TFS does not use financial need to determine a student's eligibility for admission. Final decisions regarding tuition assistance are not made until the admission process is complete.
E. Confidentiality
Tallulah Falls School safeguards the privacy of all financial information supplied by applicants and does not publicly identify recipients of tuition assistance. As well, we ask families keep their financial aid awards confidential.
II. Tuition Assistance Guidelines
A. Fair and Consistent Allocation of Funds
To determine the amount of financial assistance that may be awarded to an applicant, the Financial Aid Committee primarily relies on the recommendation made by FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment. Recognizing that circumstances affect parental contribution, TFS adheres to policies designed to promote the fairest and most consistent tuition assistance allocation.
B. Non-Typical Households
The primary assumption of Tallulah Falls School's financial aid program is that parents should finance their children's education to the extent they can. This assumption is aligned with the methodology and principles of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). Financial aid is based on the family's ability to pay, as demonstrated by the information submitted in the FACTS application. Both custodial and noncustodial parents (regardless of legal settlements) who are divorced, separated, or never married are expected to contribute to educational costs. They are required to submit the FACTS application. In exceptional cases, where one parent cannot comply, the custodial parent should submit our Statement of Explanation Form.
The conditions under which we may consider waiving the noncustodial requirement are:
- The noncustodial parent's whereabouts are unknown
- The noncustodial parent has no contact and has not had any contact with the applicant for an extended period
- The noncustodial parent provides no financial support to the student