MENLO SCHOOL • SINCE 1915

Affording Menlo

Tuition & Financial Aid

You’re ready to invest in your child’s future, we’re ready to make it affordable.

Access & Affordability

Menlo’s tuition includes most school expenses.

For example, daily transportation on any of our four Menlo bus routes, the shuttle to and from the Menlo Park CalTrain station, lunch, field trips, class retreats, and many other incidental costs are all included in tuition.

Our generous financial aid program makes Menlo accessible and affordable and supports our commitment to socio-economic diversity. Each year, Menlo admits many students regardless of their families’ ability to pay the cost of a Menlo education. Currently, more than 20% of our current students receive financial aid. With a $7 million financial aid budget, we have been able to meet 100% of each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need.

If you have questions regarding your financial aid application, please contact Rose Garza, in our Financial Aid Office, rose.garza@menloschool.org, tel: 650-330-2001 ext. 2602.

We meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Menlo is committed to giving every student access to the same opportunities in our programs.

In addition to helping with tuition expenses, Menlo financial aid helps with all additional school-related costs such as books, athletic team or club trips, global trips, a laptop, athletic gear, etc. Menlo’s financial aid awards are strictly need-based (no merit or athletic scholarships) and can range from a few thousand dollars to almost the full cost of tuition. These awards do not need to be repaid.

We believe that funding an independent school education should be a high priority for all Menlo families. In our experience, families are most engaged in their child’s education when they invest financially in the school community. Families receiving the highest levels of support through financial aid may make tuition payments as low as $50 per month. These families will also pay almost nothing for school-related costs such as a laptop, tutoring, school supplies, books, athletic gear, transportation, school trips, college-application expenses, etc.

Menlo is committed to providing aid as needed during the student’s entire time at the School. Families must reapply for financial aid each year, and adjustments to an award can occur due to a change in a family’s financial situation. If a family’s financial circumstances don’t change, the award will increase to cover the rising cost of tuition each year.

Tuition & What’s Included

Full tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 school year are $61,635 and include:

  • Lunch
  • Menlo Bus Transportation
  • Shuttle to/from Menlo Park Caltrain
  • Most field trips and retreats
  • Athletic and arts program participation

Non-tuition expenses 

  • Books/supplies approx. $400-$600*
  • Laptop approx. $1,300*

*Financial Aid also supports families with non-tuition expenses through additional funding.

Applying for Financial Aid

Menlo is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application, which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

  • Current Menlo families returning for Fall 2024 must complete and submit the financial aid application and their 2021 and 2022 federal tax returns, all schedules, and W-2 forms to Clarity by December 15, 2023.
  • Families in the applicant pool must complete and submit the financial aid application and their 2021 and 2022 federal tax returns, all schedules, and W-2 forms to Clarity by January 9, 2024.
  • Both new and returning families must submit completed 2023 federal income tax forms through Clarity by March 1, 2024.
  • If you need assistance, contact Rose Garza in our Financial Aid Office at rgarza@menloschool.org or 650.330.2001 ext. 2602.

To get started, create an account on Clarity. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity application is mobile-friendly, allowing you to complete it from anywhere, with the option to save your progress and return at any time. At the application’s conclusion, there is a $60 submission fee. You can also share your application with other schools that accept the Clarity Application at no extra cost by using the dropdown menu to select them.

If the application fee poses a financial challenge for your family, kindly contact Rose Garza, Admissions & Financial Aid Assistant, at rose.garza@menloschool.org for a fee waiver.

After submitting your Clarity Application, remember to return to your dashboard, as Menlo requires you to upload additional tax documentation based on your financial profile.

For assistance during the application process, in-app support is accessible via the “Help” button at the bottom left of the screen. Additional support is available through email and phone at support@claritytuition.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is fully translated into Spanish.

Financial Aid Questions

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Menlo School is committed to creating a socioeconomically diverse community. 

We know that students with different life experiences enrich the Menlo learning community for everyone. Our generous financial aid program makes Menlo accessible and affordable.

Access and Affordability

2022-2023 Tuition

Tuition/fees for the 2022-2023 school year are $55,900 and include:
  • Lunch
  • Menlo Bus Transportation (see routes)
  • Shuttle to/from Menlo Park Caltrain
  • Most field trips and retreats
  • Athletic and arts program participation

Non-tuition expenses

  • Books/supplies approx. $400-$600
  • Laptop approx. $1,300

Menlo’s tuition, which is $55,900 for the 2022-2023 school year, includes most school expenses. For example, daily transportation on any of our four Menlo bus routes, the shuttle to and from the Menlo Park CalTrain station, lunch, field trips, class retreats, and many other incidental costs are all included in tuition.

Each year Menlo admits many students regardless of their families’ ability to pay the cost of a Menlo education. In fact, more than 18.5% of our current students receive financial aid. We have a $7.3 million financial aid budget and are able to meet 100% of each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need. 

As a school that places a great value on inclusivity, Menlo wants every student to have access to the same opportunities. In addition to helping with tuition expenses, Menlo financial aid helps with all additional school-related costs such as books, athletic team or club trips, global trips, a laptop, athletic gear, etc.

Menlo’s financial aid awards are strictly need-based (no merit or athletic scholarships) and can range from a few thousand dollars to the full cost of tuition. These awards do not need to be repaid.

How does Menlo determine a family’s financial need? 

Like many area independent schools, we use the School and Student Services (SSS) platform as a starting reference point. To apply for aid (see details below), families use this secure online tool to complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS), which provides Menlo an estimated family contribution based on income, assets, family size, debts, and liabilities. We consider this recommendation and make adjustments as merited. (Please see the case studies below for more details.)

We believe that funding an independent school education should be a high priority for all Menlo families. In our experience, parents are more invested in their student’s education if they contribute to the cost of tuition. Some of our financial aid families will contribute as little as $50 per month as a result of our generous financial aid budget. These families will pay almost nothing for school-related costs such as a laptop, tutoring, school supplies, books, athletic gear, transportation, school trips, college-application expenses, etc.

Menlo is committed to providing aid during the student’s entire time at the School. Families must reapply for financial aid each year, and adjustments to an award can occur due to a change in a family’s financial situation. If a family’s financial circumstances don’t change, the award will increase to cover the rising cost of tuition each year.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Case Studies

Menlo’s financial aid award recipients represent a broad range of income levels. We realize that each family has a unique financial situation, and we are eager to work with families who can’t afford our tuition. The following case studies help demonstrate that families of various sizes and from a wide range of financial circumstances receive aid from Menlo. Each of these cases represents a currently enrolled family.

Case Study 1: Two parents, one child, both income earners, rent their home

# of Children: One child in a tuition-charging school (at Menlo)
Total Income: $289,500 
Net Worth*: $335,000
Award: $14,735 (30% discount on tuition). Menlo also covers 30% of all additional school-related costs, which may include a laptop, a trip to Southern California with water polo team and a Menlo Abroad trip to China. 
Parent Contribution: $34,375

*Net worth includes savings, investments, and home equity.

Case Study 2: Two parents, two children, both income earners, own their home 

# of Children: Two children in tuition-charging schools (both at Menlo)
Total Income: $223,000
Net Worth*: $815,000
Award: $37,110 (76% discount on tuition). Menlo also covers 76% of all additional school-related costs, which may include a laptop, AP exams, graduation night party, and a Menlo Abroad trip to India. 
Parent Contribution: $24,000 ($12,000 per child)

*Net worth includes savings, investments, and home equity.

Case Study 3: Two parents, one child, both income earners, own their home

# of Children: One child in tuition-charging school (at Menlo)
Total Income: $152,500
Net Worth*: $1,237,335
Award: $34,110 (70% discount on tuition). Menlo also covers 70% of all additional school-related costs, which may include a laptop, a trip to Los Angeles for a Mock Trial competition, and a Menlo Abroad trip to Guatemala.
Parent Contribution: $15,000

*Net worth includes savings, investments, and home equity.

Do you have more questions about Financial Aid?

Please see the Financial Aid FAQ here.