Tuition & Need-Based Scholarships

Tuition

Tuition for the Mountain School’s Fall ’25 and Spring ’26 Semesters will be $38,500, plus an activities fee of $750.

Deposit

The deposit required to accept your place at the Mountain School is 15% of your family’s tuition bill, after financial aid has been applied. This deposit is credited to your overall tuition balance and is non-refundable.

Payment Plans

The Mountain School offers payment plans beginning in May. Tuition can be paid in up to ten monthly installments, to be completed by the following February.

Financial Aid

The Mountain School offers need-based scholarships based on a family’s ability to pay. These are direct grants that do not need to be repaid. We do not offer merit-based scholarships because all students accepted to the Mountain School are academically qualified, or work-study because Shared Work will already be a part of your experience

  • Applicants whose families wish to apply for need-based financial aid provide a Parent Financial Statement, including supporting documents, through the SSS portal

    Use school code 3537.

    This statement is due at the same time as the student’s portion of the application on February 15 for the upcoming fall or following spring. The admissions team reviews your financial aid application at the same time as your application for admission and provides a financial aid package based on your family’s demonstrated need when decisions are released in March.

    If you are applying to the Mountain School after our priority deadline on February 15, please check with us to confirm whether financial aid is still available.

  • Similar to the FAFSA used for college admissions, SSS takes into account all sources of income for your family, existing savings & investments, real estate (primary residence is excluded but second homes and investment properties are considered), how many students in your family are attending school, medical and health expenses for your family and the cost of living in your home city.  

    Because we receive applications from all types of family backgrounds and students from all over the country, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible if you have any questions about your financial aid package. 

    Additionally, many private schools that we work with send a pro-rated portion of your financial aid package at home to the Mountain School on your behalf. This can be combined with Mountain School financial aid to lower your family’s contribution. If you are not sure whether your home school forwards financial aid, check with our admissions team at admissions@mountainschool.org or ask your home school counselor. 

  • In the most recent admissions season, 40% of accepted students were offered a need-based scholarship. We do not offer merit-based scholarships, since all students who come to the Mountain School are academically motivated.

  • Sometimes, the Mountain School is unable to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated need. This could be the case if you are applying late or if there is a particularly competitive application cycle. Over the years, we have seen students be extremely resourceful in contributing to their Mountain School education. Some past students have…

    • Gotten a summer job to contribute towards their tuition and travel

    • Applied for grants to local Lions Club, Rotary or other community organizations

    • Received support from a church or religious organization they are a part of

    • Received contributions from family members, such as grandparents

    • Received contributions from local businesses

    If you have another suggestion or would like to discuss these options, please email admissions@mountainschool.org.

Additional Costs of Attendance

We require all students who attend the Mountain School to have active health insurance. If you do not have health insurance, plans can be purchased through the school.

Travel costs to the Mountain School can vary depending on where you live. Families are invited to attend Opening Day and Closing Day on campus in Vershire. This can also be helpful for moving into and out of the dorms. During the semester, there is one longer break (Thanksgiving or Spring Break) that all students travel home for (Fall semester students also have a short Fall Break). For students receiving a 100% scholarship, the Mountain School covers travel costs for the student and one family member.

You may need gear for the Outdoor Program at the Mountain School. As an alternative to purchasing new gear, TMS has gear libraries. We have sufficient cold-weather gear and camping equipment for all students if you prefer to borrow.

At the end of the semester, some students choose to ship items home rather than carry them on a plane. If you decide to ship items home, our office is happy to ship them for you and would bill you the cost of their shipping.

Books and course materials are included in the Activities Fee.

Partnerships with Sending Schools

Private schools who have sent students to the Mountain School in the past support a student’s experience by waiving the home school tuition while the student is away. In some cases, your private school may forward your financial aid to the Mountain School to add to what TMS is able to offer you.

If you are not sure of your school’s policies, you can reach out to your advisor or check with us by emailing admissions@mountainschool.org. Please do this as soon as you apply to the Mountain School so you can have clarity on what your family’s tuition obligation will be at the time of your acceptance.