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.

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Access & Affordability

Our financial aid program reduces the cost of tuition for eligible families, supports our commitment to socio-economic diversity, and makes Menlo a reality for any admitted student.

We believe funding an independent school education should be a high priority for all Menlo families. Menlo’s tuition at all levels supports our programs and our people.

Our financial aid program is funded entirely by generous donations from our community. This year, 22% of Menlo families receive financial assistance towards tuition and non-tuition expenses such as books, athletic team or club trips, global trips, a laptop, athletic gear, and more. 

With a $7.7 million financial aid budget, we meet 100% of each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need. Tuition for families who received grants in the 2024-2025 school year ranged from $500 to $48,700.

It’s important that you know that the admissions and financial aid processes at Menlo are entirely separate. Applying for financial aid will not affect your child’s admissions decision.  

We are dedicated to making a Menlo education accessible to admitted students, regardless of their financial circumstances. This program enables us to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment and enrich the educational experience for all students.

If you have questions about your financial aid application, please contact Rose Garza, Financial Aid Manager, at rose.garza@menloschool.org or 650-330-2001 ext. 2602.

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 tuition and non-tuition expenses.

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 2025 must complete and submit the financial aid application and their 2022 and 2023 federal tax returns, all schedules, and W-2 forms to Clarity by November 1, 2024.
  • Families in the applicant pool for admission to Menlo must complete and submit the financial aid application and their 2022 and 2023 federal tax returns, all schedules, and W-2 forms to Clarity by January 9, 2025.
  • Both new and returning families must submit completed 2024 federal income tax forms through Clarity by March 1, 2025.
  • Families must apply by the posted deadlines to be eligible for aid for the academic year. Menlo maintains funding to assist current families who experience verified financial reversals outside the regular application cycle, allowing them to apply for financial aid for the first time.
  • If you need assistance, contact Rose Garza in our Financial Aid Office at rgarza@menloschool.org or 650.330.2001 ext. 2602.

To start, create an account on Clarity. The $60 submission fee covers your Menlo application and your application to any other school using Clarity.

Fee waivers are available:

    • Clarity automatically waives the fee for applicants meeting their income level guidelines.
    • If you need but don’t receive an automatic waiver through Clarity, please contact: Rose Garza, Financial Aid Manager rose.garza@menloschool.org

Apply for Financial Aid through Clarity

Clarity Family Application Guide

Guía de la Aplicación Para Las Familias

 

Webinars Hosted by Clarity

Each year, Clarity hosts several hour-long informational webinars for families. During the live sessions, they will go over key aspects of the application, things to look out for, materials to gather, how to get help, how the tax verification process works, and a robust Q&A. 

 

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

Financial Aid Questions

Content from previous site pages, can be copied into new design as needed

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

2024-2025 Tuition

Tuition/fees for the 2024-2025 school year are $61,635 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 $61,635 for the 2024-2025 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 19% 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.