In 1993 WSP initiated a Tuition Adjustment program based on the ideal that Waldorf education should be accessible to families who value and are committed to it, regardless of their economic circumstances. Since then, families participating in the tuition adjustment program have contributed significantly to the economic stability of the school as well as to its spiritual and social growth.

The decision to accept a student is made with no regard to the family’s financial circumstances. Acceptance is based on how the student fits with the class, how the student may enrich the class, and the schools’ ability to serve the student. The process of applying for tuition adjustment is begun only after a student has been accepted.

Tuition adjustment is a change in the amount of tuition that a family will be expected to pay; it is not “financial aid” or “assistance” provided to a family by grant, scholarship, or other monetary resources. The school considers many factors in determining a family’s ability to pay, and an adjusted tuition is viewed as a contribution to our income rather than a reduction.

Affordability Profiles
WSP families participating in the Tuition Adjustment program contribute a range of tuition based on need. The following family profiles represent the broad range of family household and financial circumstances and examples of corresponding adjusted tuition.

How it Works

Tuition adjustment is granted on the basis of need. To participate in the tuition adjustment program, a family must hold Waldorf education high on its list of financial priorities and pay to the maximum extent of its financial capability. Families applying for tuition adjustment are expected to assess their financial status and to turn to other sources including investments, major assets and savings, trust accounts, and contributions of non-custodial parents and other relatives (for example grandparents) before asking WSP for a tuition adjustment. WSP may not be able to stretch to the full amount of tuition adjustment requested by a family.

A tuition adjustment is not intended to support a family’s discretionary items such as after-school activities, luxury items, purchase of a home or a second home, travel, investment portfolios, debt-free status, or large amounts of home equity. None of these situations automatically precludes an adjustment but will be taken into account when determining a family’s eligibility for adjusted tuition.

Please note: an adjusted tuition is available to students in kindergarten – grade 12. Preschool siblings will also be included in the TA calculation. TA is not available to children enrolled in our Preschool Program if they do not have older siblings enrolled at WSP in kindergarten – grade 12.

Process Overview

1. Check the Tuition Adjustment (TA) box on your enrollment contract.
2. Application instructions will be emailed to you.

3. Complete the TA application and submit supporting documents, then a member of the TA Committee will contact you to set up a meeting.

4. During the meeting, two TA Committee members and you will closely review both the school’s and your family’s finances, striving to arrive at a tuition amount through consensus.

For more detailed information on our Tuition Adjustment program, please read these Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).

Community Supported

WSP’s Tuition Adjustment program is supported by the entire community through generous restricted gifts as well as donations to the school’s annual WSP Fund. This transformative program is also made possible by the generous support of:

The Eric Brandenburg
Tuition Adjustment Endowment Fund

Please contact WSP’s Advancement Director to discuss how you can help more students experience Waldorf education through supporting the Tuition Adjustment program.