Tuition for the 2009-2010 school year is $20,400 or about $1,700 a month over 12 months. Other charges, for books and field trips, can cost an additional $800-$1000 a year.

Our admission decisions are need-blind, meaning admission decisions are made prior to, and separate from, decisions concerning tuition aid. Once a student has been accepted, we make every effort to meet his/her financial needs.

Our policies and process are set forth below, but please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Tuition Aid Policies

• Tuition aid is based solely on financial needs of the family. No honor, athletic or artistic scholarships are awarded. Most families with incomes less than $130,000 receive some tuition aid. Most families with incomes of $60,000 or less receive substantial awards, from 75 to 100 percent of tuition.
• Awards are made for one academic year; applicants for aid apply each year.
• Awards are in the form of a grant (which does not need to be paid back), a loan, or a grant and a loan.
• Interest on loans is 5 percent per year. Interest payments do not begin until the child graduates from Burroughs. Principal payments do not begin until the child graduates from college.
• Because no two families have the same financial needs, the Tuition Aid Committee is reluctant to use rigid guidelines in determining awards, and thus, it considers each application individually.
• Regarding the matter of divorce or separation, the Tuition Aid Committee will consider the assets of both natural parents before making any award, and will not be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses.
• Remarriage of either parent creates a new family unit with new relationships. The noncustodial parent (and any spouse) must also file the necessary tuition aid forms.

Tuition Aid Process

Every applicant goes through the regular admission process, regardless of whether the family is applying for tuition aid.

Families who intend to apply for tuition aid should contact the admissions office as soon as they reach this decision. Burroughs will then send a tuition aid application.

By January 29 – Parents should complete and mail this application to The School and Student Service for Tuition Aid (SSS), an independent and nonprofit organization that makes an analysis of the family's finances and determines a suggested contribution that the family should make toward the educational expenses of the child or children. The SSS address is provided on the application. SSS will not process copied applications, so please mail the original or apply online.

By January 29 – Please mail a copy of this application along with the Burroughs Parents' Estimated Contribution sheet, copies of pages 1 and 2 of your 2008 Federal Income Tax Return (1040) and Schedules A and B, if applicable, to Caroline LaVigne, Director of Admissions and Tuition Aid, John Burroughs School, 755 South Price Road, St. Louis, MO, 63124.

As mentioned above, SSS only gives a suggested family contribution, based on the previous year's income and expenses, and current family assets. After Burroughs makes all admissions decisions, the Trustee Committee on Tuition Aid meets to decide how large an award each family applying for aid will receive. This process is done anonymously and confidentially.

On March 11 – Families applying for tuition aid whose children have been accepted are mailed two letters.  The first is a notification of their child's acceptance, and the second informs them of the amount of their tuition aid award.

For additional information please contact Caroline LaVigne at clavigne@jburroughs.org or 314-993-4045 ext. 227.  To request a tuition aid application, please contact Nancy Vogt at nvogt@jburroughs.org or 314-993-4045 ext. 242.  You may also apply on line at sss.nais.org and click on 'Complete a PFS on line'.  (Online application live on November 1, 2009.)