Affording a Chatham Hall Education
Financial Aid
Financing an independent education is a major investment in your daughter's future. The cost of educating a students at Chatham Hall is substantial. Chatham Hall's small size, personalized attention, opportunities for exploration, and superior faculty mean that the actual cost per student far exceeds the true cost. We are committed to making a CH education affordable to all admitted students.
Many families feel that they may not be eligible for financial aid for private school. However, for the 2010-2011 school year approximately 43% of our Chatham Hall families received need-based financial aid. Because of the generous gifts from donors, supportive alumnae, parents, and friends of the school, Chatham Hall is able to provide additional funding for tuition assistance for families at various income levels.
Financial Aid Process
Financial Aid decisions are made completely separately from the admission decisions. Admission decisions are made prior to financial aid or scholarship consideration. Demonstrated need has no bearing on the admission process.
The Financial Aid Committee determines the amount of aid considering the following:
The recommendation of (SSS) School and Student Service for Financial Aid based on the information you provided from the (PFS) Parents' Financial Statement.
The total amount of the financial budget available.
The number of applicants applying for financial aid for private school.
Adherence to designated deadlines.
The Financial Aid Committee also takes into account the number and ages of the children in the family, educational expenses, additional dependents, parents' ages, all sources of income and assets, medical expenses, legal fees, club memberships, travel, family's priority of spending, and debt and expenses.
Financial Aid awards are granted each year and renewals are based on a continued demonstrated need. A financial aid for private school award is renewed after considering a student's citizenship and academic standing.
Applying for Financial Aid
We ask that you mail your 2011 Federal IRS Form 1040 plus all Schedules (everything submitted to the IRS) and W-2 forms directly to SSS. Please do not send a copy to Chatham Hall. The 4506 form must be signed. Do not date the form.
Applications for financial aid for private school will not be received until all documents are received and processed by SSS. Expect at least two weeks for SSS to process the forms.
Also, you must include a copy of the cover sheet you received when you completed the PFS. We ask that you mail the tax forms so that they are received by February 10, 2012.
Your tax forms and documentation can be sent by surface mail, via either the U.S. Postal Service or a private carrier. The addresses are below:
For US MAIL
SSS by NAIS Application Processing Center
Post Office Box 449
Randolph, MA 02368
For PRIVATE CARRIER (FedEx, UPS, etc.)
SSS by NAIS Application Processing Center
437 Turnpike Street
Canton, MA 02021
We understand that preparing tax returns in advance of the IRS deadlines represents an inconvenience. We will accept an estimated tax return for 2011 followed by the official return once completed. The initial financial aid award could change based upon the differences in your estimated and actual 2011 tax return. No financial aid award is final until the official 2011 tax return is received.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Vicki G. Wright, Director of Admission and Financial Aid, or Stephanie Hedge, Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of Bettie Beckwith Nilsen, '31, who bequeathed to the School the largest gift in the history of girls' independent schools, Chatham Hall offers merit scholarships to gifted girls with personal goals and ideals - girls who would like to follow in the footsteps of this powerful Chatham Hall alumna. Ten full-tuition and partial-tuition Nilsen scholarships are awarded to new students each academic year.
Who could be selected as a Nilsen Scholar? Any girl who has
- an exceptional academic record,
- 90% and above scores on the SSAT,
- a commitment to integrity and honor,
- drive to excel,
- talent that she will contribute to School life (for example, in leadership, the arts, and athletics), and
- excellent recommendations.
Named Scholarships
Chatham Hall's financial aid program is financed through the School's operating budget and by "named scholarships" that have been funded by alumnae, parents, foundations, or friends of the School. Chatham Hall reserves these "named scholarships" for students receiving financial aid who have high academic standing, leadership qualities, and involvement within the Chatham Hall community. "Named scholarships" cannot be applied for.
Alumnae Legacy Scholarship Fund
Caroline S. Biedenharn '03 Endowed Scholarship Fund
Edith Sunday Clarke '23 Scholarship Fund
Class of 1941 50th Reunion Scholarship Fund
Class of 1955 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Class of 1958 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Class of 1959 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Katy Close '79 Scholarship Fund
George D. Dayton II Scholarship Fund
Karen von Maltitz DeWolfe '60 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Connie Gibson Memorial Scholarship Fund
Margaret Hall Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Fund
Phyllis Banks Hunt Scholarship Fund
Anne Winship Kelleher '52 and Sandy Ryburn Taylor '52 Scholarship Fund
Barclay Ball McCall '55 Memorial Scholarship Fund
Sidney A. Mitchell Scholarship Fund
Anne Shirley Molloy Scholarship Fund
Joan C. Pittman '55 Scholarship Fund
Reader's Digest Endowed Scholarship Fund
Alison '50 and ross Siragusa Scholarship Fund
Jerry Van Voorhis Leadership Scholarship Fund
Sally Brittingham Wallace '44 Legacy Scholarship
Wiley Patterson Reis '27 Scholarship Fund
Zachar - Holt Scholarship Fund
Please do not hesitate to call the Director of Financial Aid, Vicki Wright, at (434) 432-2941 should you have questions.
Day Student Open House - October 10, 2011
Open House - November 6 & 7, 2011
Day Student Open House - December 1, 2011
Nilsen Scholars Open House - December 4 & 5, 2011
Open House - January 15 & 16, 2012
Nilsen Scholars Open House - January 29 & 30, 2011
Application Deadline - February 1, 2012
Open House - February 19 & 20, 2012
Revisit Weekend - March 30 & 31, 2012