Financial Assistance

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• Who should apply?

  Families interested in providing their children with a TVT education but worried about affordability should consider applying for financial assistance. Understanding that each family's financial situation is unique, TVT is dedicated to meeting the demonstrated and documented needs of each family.
  
  TVT appreciates and understands the significant sacrifice and financial investment each family makes in their children’s education at our school. TVT seeks to enroll students that will contribute to and flourish in our community regardless of their family's financial standing and is committed to sustaining a financial assistance program to enroll students from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

• How do I apply for financial assistance?

  Step 1: Apply for Admissions to TVT by submitting the Application for Admission for your child(ren). Financial assistance applications are not reviewed until the student application is completed.

  
  

  Step 2: Submit Clarity application to February 1, 2025 (new families to TVT) 
  December 1, 2024 (returning TVT families)

  
  
  

  The TVT Financial Assistance program is designed to make a TVT education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. TVT is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.
  
  

  To get started, please go to the **Clarity Application** and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
  
  

  If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
  
  

  
  
  

  Financial Assistance award decisions are communicated within the enrollment agreement. 

  
  

  Family Application Guide

  Family Application Guide (Spanish version)

  Family Information NIght Webinar Recording, Passcode: t#L4ZzCK

• Does applying for financial assistance affect an application for admission?

  TVT does not use financial capacity as a consideration in determining a student’s eligibility for admission. The Admission Committee considers each applicant without knowing whether the applicant's family is applying for financial assistance. Once the  Admission Committee makes a decision, the Financial Assistance Committee reviews the financial assistance application.

• How is financial assistance awarded?

  In an effort to provide a uniform and objective evaluation of applications, TVT utilizes the services of Clarity, an organization dedicated to objectively establishing financial profiles of its applicants for the purpose of assessing financial assistance needs. Each applicant family is required to complete the Clarity application, provide the requested documents, and pay the required processing fee. The Financial Assistance Committee uses Clarity and related information in determining a family’s capacity to pay tuition but recognizes that Clarity is not a perfect indicator of need nor a substitute for professional judgment that may be applied as facts and circumstances warrant.

• How does TVT determine need?

  In fairness to all families requesting financial assistance, TVT considers all financial information including lifestyle choices to assess the level of need for financial assistance. 

• Does financial assistance cover any additional student fees?

  The following fees are reduced based on the % of financial assistance awarded:  

  • Grade level Activity fees 
  • Learning Center fees 
  • Athletic fees

• What happens if parents are divorced, separated, or remarried?

  TVT believes that all parents have a moral and ethical obligation to contribute to the expense of educating their children, whether or not they have the legal obligation to do so. The assets and income of all parents are required for consideration in making a financial assistance award. All parents are expected to submit a Clarity application and required documents to the Clarity website. If either parent is remarried, the needs analysis considers the assets and earnings of the stepparent in conjunction with the primary parent, keeping in mind the stepparent’s responsibility for his or her own children.

• What if the custodial parent has no contact with the non-custodial parent?

  If the non-custodial parent has no contact with the custodial parent or the student(s) [their child(ren)], or it is not in the best interest of the student, the requirement of financial aid forms from the non-custodial parent may be waived. The guiding principle is based on “lack of contact” for a period of time, which must be proved by the custodial parent. A letter of verification from a third party, (i.e. attorney, social worker, etc.) will be required. 

• If a family receives a financial aid award the first year, will they expect approximately the same level of aid in future years?

  Financial assistance must be separately applied for each year. TVT understands the importance of continuity in a child’s education. However, with limited funds available for financial assistance as well as evolving families’ financial needs, it is impossible to guarantee a continuance of financial assistance. When the school provides the initial year’s financial assistance for a student, it is the school’s expectation that it will try to maintain a similar level of financial support for that student throughout the student’s entire time at TVT, given a consistent level of demonstrated parental financial need. 

• What if there is an unexpected change in financial circumstances after financial assistance has been awarded? 

  If an unexpected financial change occurs which results in an increase in a family’s financial assistance needs (such as divorce, loss of job, investment losses, etc.), the parent may request an award reconsideration by completing an appeal request and providing supporting documentation.