Tuition & Financial Aid

Choosing an independent school is a significant financial commitment—but choosing the right independent school is an investment in your child’s future. Choosing Marlborough means investing in an education where the difference is clear.

The opportunities, mentorship, and lifelong impact of a Marlborough education extend far beyond the classroom, shaping confident, empathetic leaders who lead in whatever field they choose to pursue. While we recognize that every family's financial circumstances are different, our need-based financial aid program ensures that talented, ambitious students have access to this transformative education, regardless of financial circumstances.

2024-2025 Tuition

Tuition*
Grades 7 - 12	$52,850
Fees
New Student Fee	$3,000
Senior Fee	$3,000
Optional Bus Service
Round Trip Service	$4,150
One Way Service	$2,075
Senior Reduced Rate	$550
Bring Your Own Laptop	$1,000 - $1,600

One in Four Marlborough Students Receive Financial Assistance

Awards range from 5% - 100%, and along with tuition, covers most school expenses such as books, school trips, bus transportation, college counseling workshops, laptops, extracurricular activities, and more.

Financial Aid Distribution: Support at Every Level

Marlborough’s financial aid program is designed to meet families where they are, ensuring that students from a wide range of financial backgrounds can access our extraordinary education. Aid is distributed across all income levels, meaning there’s no single profile of a financial aid recipient—every band is represented.

The average award for the 2024-2025 academic year is $37,000, which covers 66% of a student’s tuition. The school also covers a portion of educational fees proportional to a student's financial aid award.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Marlborough’s Financial Aid program helps make a Marlborough education accessible to families based on demonstrated financial need and available funds.

We use Clarity Tuition to manage our financial aid process. Clarity simplifies the application and provides a clearer picture of a family’s financial situation by reviewing income, assets, expenses, and debts. Based on the information you provide to Clarity, along with supplemental documents—including a space where you can elaborate on any situation you feel the committee needs to know, Clarity calculates an estimated amount your family can contribute toward educational expenses.

All applications are reviewed by Marlborough’s Financial Aid Committee, which considers each family’s unique circumstances and strives to ensure equity across our community.

If you have any questions about the financial aid process, please contact Stephanie Polanco at stephanie.polanco@marlborough.org.

Step 1: Indicate Financial Aid Interest

Step 2: Access the Clarity Application

Step 3: Authorize Transcript and Submit Tax Documents

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Step 5: Return to the Dashboard

Questions During the Application Process?

What About Privacy and Security?

Financial Aid at Marlborough - Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for financial aid?

How does applying for financial aid affect a student’s admissions decision?

Although Marlborough has a robust financial aid budget, unfortunately we are unable to fund every admissible student who requests financial aid. Therefore, students who apply for financial aid are placed into a more competitive admissions pool.

Candidates who meet the admissions requirements and who have applied for financial aid are prioritized by the Admissions and Financial Aid Committees based on the school's enrollment goals. A student who applies for financial aid will receive an acceptance decision only if a financial aid award is offered or if it is determined that she does not qualify for financial aid.

Does Marlborough offer academic scholarships? Athletic scholarships?

How do you calculate a family’s financial need?

Marlborough subscribes to Clarity Tuition. Clarity’s calculation of need considers gross taxable income, assets, liabilities, family size, daily living expenses, and number of children in tuition-charging institutions, among other things. Based on this information, coupled with data gathered from tax documents imported or submitted, the Financial Aid Committee determines what amount, if any, your family can pay for tuition.

Marlborough's calculated parental contribution may differ from Clarity’s calculation. For example, Marlborough may disallow losses attributable to second homes, investment properties, hobby businesses, and certain types of depreciation.

What if parents are divorced or separated or never married?

Marlborough considers the assets of both parents in reviewing students for a financial aid award. Custodial and non-custodial parents are responsible for educational expenses and therefore must both participate in the financial aid process by submitting the financial aid application form and tax information. Until both parents complete the process, the Financial Aid Committee will not review the financial aid application.

If either parent has remarried or is living with another adult who is contributing to the household income, the school will consider the assets of the step-parent or partner, always bearing in mind that the primary responsibility for payment rests with the natural parents.

Is there an expectation that both parents work?

Marlborough expects both parents to contribute financially to their child’s education. If a parent is not receiving a salary, the school will make a financial adjustment to the application to account for the income the parent might receive if they chose to work.

Since each application is reviewed individually, there may be exceptions to this policy, such as caring for a child not yet of school age, or another individual who cannot care for themselves, or a parent who is not able to work. Under such circumstances, we ask that you explain in writing why the parent is not employed when you submit your initial application.

Can I submit an admissions application as a “full-pay family” and then apply for assistance after my daughter has been admitted?

If a family believes they will need financial aid at any point during a child’s time at Marlborough, they should apply for aid when they submit their application for admission. A “full-pay” application communicates that a family is capable of covering all educational expenses for the duration of their child’s time at Marlborough. Marlborough will not consider an application for financial assistance at any time once a family applies and is admitted as a "full-pay" student unless there is a significant change in the family’s economic circumstance.

What expenses are covered by financial aid at Marlborough?

A Marlborough financial aid award, which can range anywhere from 5-100% of school expenses, covers most necessary expenses that your child will incur as part of the Marlborough experience. This includes items such as books, bus transportation, college counseling workshops and experiences, a laptop computer, and participation in extracurricular activities. Our goal is to help parents with expenses, and to enable financial aid recipients to participate fully in school life.