Through GRAIN, Groton has become the leader in tuition cost containment among American boarding schools.
The GRAIN initiative, adopted as the school's #1 strategic priority in 2014, contained tuition while increasing the number of students on financial aid and guaranteeing that the school would consider all applicants without regard for their ability to pay.
Beyond "Need Blind" Admission:
Groton does not consider a family's financial circumstances in making admission decisions. Support is provided throughout a student's years at Groton so that all students can take full advantage of the Groton experience. Many receive funding for summer study, global education opportunities, travel to and from school, supplies including books and laptop computers, spending accounts, and travel for parents headed to campus for Parents Weekend. Applicants who are offered admission from the waiting list are treated with the same "need blind" approach as those who are admitted in March.
At Groton, we want to ensure that applicants can join our community regardless of their families’ financial situations.
One of the more persistent misunderstandings about independent school education is that it is not affordable. In fact, financial aid awards granted by Groton are, by and large, significantly more generous than those offered by American universities. Financial aid assessments at Groton are made with the assumption that families will eventually face the cost of a college education, too.

Do not assume you will not qualify for financial aid. Families from many different income levels qualify for aid each year. Groton is committed to inclusion. The popular depiction of boarding schools as places that only the wealthy can afford continues to prevent people from considering the option of this excellent form of education.

Since 2008, Groton School has waived tuition, room, and board for students from families with incomes below $80,000. This policy reflects the School’s recognition that the great resources of Groton and the promise afforded by a Groton education should be available to all. Again, do not assume you will not qualify for aid.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Bill Riley, Groton's Director of Financial Aid, at 978-448-7510 or wriley@groton.org.

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  • Photo of William Riley

    William Riley 

    Director of Financial Aid, Dorm Head
    978-448-7517
Tuition & Fees
Boarding
Day
Tuition '24–25 Room & Board
$60,895
$47,420
Technology Fee
$600
$600
Health Fee
$400
 
Other Expenses
  • Books $600
  • Laundry service (optional) $1099
  • Coin/App operated laundry $100
  • Incidentals (art & other class supplies, bus vacation travel, equipment etc.) $500
  • Music lessons (optional) $1,100
  • Spending money $600

Financial Aid Facts

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  • 44%

    Students on Financial Aid
  • $47,245

    Average Boarding Grant
  • $36,159

    Average Day Grant
  • $7.6m

    Financial Aid Budget

Inclusion Scholars

Who Gets Financial Aid?

Families who qualify for financial aid often find that Groton is their most affordable option.

To a family, the amount of financial aid that a school provides is less important than the amount they must contribute toward tuition. The charts on this page shed light on the generosity of Groton’s financial aid program as well as the school’s commitment to make the school accessible to families, of neither high nor low income, who sometimes assume they will not qualify for aid.

One chart lists the number of families in different income brackets and what they were asked to contribute to their child’s education at Groton this year. The pie chart shows how many students are receiving aid in different income brackets.

Please remember that while income is the primary driver in assessing a family’s contribution, we also consider assets, tuition expenses at other schools, the size of a family, debts, and other factors.

The Talented Missing Middle

GRAIN also placed special emphasis on the group Mr. Maqubela often calls “the talented missing middle.” Often assuming that they will not qualify for aid, these families are squeezed by burdensome loans at the college level and rarely think of independent schools like Groton. “How can independent school students have a real-world experience,” asks Mr. Maqubela, “if we omit the talent from an enormous socioeconomic group?”

New Families Applying For Financial Aid

To begin the financial aid process, create an account in Clarity.

All new and returning candidates for aid must complete a financial aid application each year. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Please refer to these resources for guidance:
The application fee is $60. If you need help with your application, email support is available in both English and Spanish at support@clarityapp.com.

Family Information Webinars
October 28 at 6:30 p.m. (Eastern)
October 29 at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific)
December 10 at 5:30pm (Pacific)

Important Points About Financial Aid

  1. The School does not offer scholarships based on particular talents or attributes. Financial aid is for families who have a demonstrated need for financial assistance.
  2. If a family believes they will need financial aid at any point during a child’s time at Groton, they must apply for aid at the outset. Families will not be considered for aid if it is not requested during the admission application process. If a family’s financial circumstances change significantly, the School will make every effort to provide assistance.
  3. Groton School's financial aid committee will consider the financial resources of both biological parents. For divorced or separated parents, both parents should complete a Clarity application.
  4. Groton actively seeks students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. We allocate $7.6 million toward financial aid for our population of 380 students, and 44 percent of our students receive some degree of assistance.
  5. Be sure to apply for financial aid in a timely manner. The deadline for returning applicants is November 30. The deadline for new applicants is January 15.
If you have questions about the financial aid process, contact our Director of Financial Aid William Riley

Tuition/Financial Aid FAQ

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