Admission

Tuition & Affordability

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 certain thresholds. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, that number is $150,000 per household. 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.

List of 1 members.

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

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

List of 4 items.

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.

Number of Financial Aid Recipients 2024-25

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)

Clarity

Important Points About Financial Aid

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

List of 9 items.

I am not sure if our family will qualify for financial aid. Is it worth applying?

If you are unsure whether you will qualify, you may contact our Director of Financial Aid Bill Riley for advice. From the School's perspective, if you question whether you will qualify but recognize that tuition will be a significant financial hardship, you should apply. Feel free to take a look at our income/financial aid chart, and don't hesitate to be in touch with questions about eligibility, forms, or any other matters.
Will applying for financial aid affect my child's chances for admission?

No. Decisions regarding admission to the School and decisions about financial aid eligibility are made independently by two separate committees. All families who are interested in financial aid are encouraged to apply. For nearly half of our candidate families, applying for financial aid is a normal part of the admission process. Groton's new GRAIN initiative allows the School to accept deserving candidates who in previous years may not have been admitted.
Does Groton have any merit scholarships for which I can compete?

No. All financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need, not upon academic, athletic, or other merit. We firmly believe all students who are admitted to Groton have sufficient merit and that our aid funds are best awarded only to those who truly need them.
Does Groton award financial aid to students from foreign countries?

Yes, international students are eligible to receive financial aid.
What is GRAIN?

Learn about the GRoton Affordability and INclusion (GRAIN) initiative and how it's making financial aid even more available to a wide range of students.
What items do I need to complete my financial aid application?

Refer to Clarity's reference guide for all required items.

If you have questions about what forms are required, don't hesitate to contact Sandra Rivetts at srivetts@groton.org or Bill Riley at wriley@groton.org or at 978-448-7510.
When will we be notified of our financial aid award?

Your admission decision letter and your financial aid award letter will be sent on March 10.
I've heard that sometimes free tuition is offered. How do I apply?

Since 2008, Groton School has waived tuition, room, and board for students from families with incomes below certain thresholds. Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, that number is $150,000 per household. In this situation, the application process is the same as it is for any financial aid: you must submit the Clarity application, which will include your completed tax returns. Should you be accepted at Groton and fall within this income bracket, you will receive free tuition and expense money throughout your years at Groton, as long as your financial situation is unchanged.
Can I enroll in a monthly tuition payment plan?

Yes, an optional monthly payment plan for tuition is available with FACTS. FACTS offers a nine-month payment plan. Please note that you must enroll for the nine-month plan no later than May 15. Incidental charges will be billed directly to parents and are not paid through FACTS.