Tuition Assistance

List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• How long is tuition assistance available?

  Awards are made for one year at a time.
  
  Awards are renewable each year that a family qualifies for aid.
  
  While there is no distinction among students, Hockaday does require its tuition assistance recipients to maintain high academic and citizenship standards.

• How much does the tuition assistance application cost?

  SSS charges $60 for a tuition assistance/financial aid application that can then be sent to multiple schools to which you apply. They waive the application fee for families below a certain income level.

• Do you offer admission application fee waivers?

  The Hockaday School is committed to providing families with the financial resources needed to make an independent school education possible. Admission application fee waivers are available for those who qualify. Please contact the Office of Admission at admission@hockaday.org or call 214-360-6526 for information.

• Who is eligible?

  Qualified students who might not otherwise be able to attend are eligible. All tuition assistance is granted on the basis of demonstrated family need and the school's availability of funds.

• How am I notified?

  All applicants applying for tuition assistance are notified in writing of the award decision. All information concerning tuition assistance is held in the strictest confidence by The Hockaday School.

• If I do not receive tuition assistance in my first year at Hockaday can I receive it in the future?

  If you do not receive tuition assistance with your initial application, you should not expect to receive it in future years unless your family financial circumstances change.

• What if I haven’t completed my tax return by the application deadline?

  We understand that our deadline is earlier than the IRS deadline. In order for us to make a complete analysis of the applications of all of the families applying for aid, our deadline is necessary. We ask that you comply if you wish to be considered for a financial grant. Please be in communication with us if there are extenuating circumstances and understand that we may not be able to accommodate your timetable.

• What if my income does not reflect my current situation?

  We understand that situations may change due to job loss or illness or other life events. Please explain your situation on your application and expect to schedule a meeting to help us understand your current circumstances.

• Does Hockaday award scholarships?

  All funds are distributed in the form of financial aid. This year, over 14% of the student body received over $3 million in financial assistance; however, none of this is in the form of merit scholarships. We encourage families to apply if an education at Hockaday would not otherwise be affordable for their daughters.

• How is tuition assistance calculated?

  The Awards Committee takes into consideration the needs analysis for each family as provided by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), the resources of the family and its individual circumstances, as well as the availability of tuition assistance funds when making the final determination of tuition assistance awards. Criteria on which the SSS determines a family's need for assistance are: 
  

  • family's income
  • family's assets
  • family's liabilities
  • unusual expenses
  • family size
  • retirement needs
  • number of children attending tuition-charging schools

• What if the student's parents are divorced or separated?

  When making tuition assistance decisions, the Awards Committee takes into consideration the financial resources of both parents, regardless of their marital status. Since Hockaday is not bound by court orders as to financial responsibility for a student's education, both parents are required to submit all required financial documentation, including annual tax returns.