Admission

Tuition & Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Q: How is my financial need determined?

    SSS takes into account a number of standard and universal financial factors when computing a family’s financial need. Some of the most notable are income and expenses, assets, family, size, age of parents, number of children, and number of children attending tuition-charging institutions. From these criteria, a figure of discretionary income is calculated, and then a portion of this amount is suggested as the contribution a family should be able to make toward educating their child at a secondary school. SSS sends a copy of the Report of Family Contribution (RFC) to the schools designated by the family on the PFS. Millbrook’s Financial Aid Committee will use this recommendation as a starting point for determining a family’s award, bearing in mind that there are many special conditions surrounding each family’s financial situation. The Financial Aid Committee also takes into account a family’s financial strength relative to all of the families who are applying for aid as well as the availability of funds which the school has budgeted for this purpose.
  • Q: Are there special circumstances that can affect a family's level of contribution?

    There are a few special circumstances further described below:
    • In the case of divorced parents, Millbrook's financial aid awards are based on both parents' ability to contribute toward tuition, not on their willingness to do so. If the custodial parent remarries, the step-parent's income information must be recorded on the PFS, and the family's ability to contribute toward tuition is based on both the natural and step-parent's joint financial picture. The Financial Aid Committee understands that each case of separation or divorce is unique in nature and may require additional explanation and conversations. Please do not hesitate to contact Director of Financial Aid Anna Birnbaum to discuss specific circumstances.
    • The Financial Aid Committee usually does not allow for income losses for depreciation on homes and property, as well as income losses from private businesses or business-related investments.
    • It is Millbrook School's expectation that unless a parent is disabled or has responsibility for small children at home, both parents should have employment. If this is not the case, then an adjustment for the potential of income from the non-working parent is often made on the PFS.
    If you have any specific questions about the above policies or methods of computation, please contact Director of Financial Aid Anna Birnbaum.
  • Q: What can a family expect from year to year?

    The procedures and deadlines for filing financial aid forms are the same for returning students as they are for new students. Awards are recalculated each year, and thus returning families are required to complete the Parent Financial Statement again and submit updated tax information. Failure to file with SSS by the January 31st deadline could jeopardize a student's financial aid reward.

    A family can expect that a student's financial aid will continue throughout his or her tenure at Millbrook. The size of the award may vary as the family's financial circumstances change. However, a student's failure to meet academic expectations commensurate with his or her ability and to adhere to Millbrook's standards of conduct can adversely affect the renewal of an award.

    Please contact the Admission Office if you should have any questions:
    Anna Birnbaum
    Director of Financial Aid
    Millbrook School
    131 Millbrook School Road
    Millbrook, New York 12545
    Phone: (845) 677-8261, Fax: (845) 677-1265
    Email: Anna Birnbaum

Financial Aid Program

Millbrook School seeks to attract and maintain a highly capable and diverse student body. To help meet that commitment the school offers financial aid on the basis of a family's demonstrated financial need, the merit of the applicant, and the availability of school funds. It is the school's expectation that families receiving financial assistance embrace the value of a Millbrook education and make it a priority in their financial planning. For the 2022-23 academic year, 32% of Millbrook students received grants totaling $4.6 million.
 
Millbrook subscribes to the School and Student Services (SSS) to help our financial aid committee assess a family's need and their ability to contribute toward their child's education. Please read the instructions for applying for financial aid to the right, and then click here to access the SSS website.  
 
Each year the number of requests for financial aid exceeds our annual budget and we are only able to offer support for a percentage of accepted students. Thus an applicant may receive an offer of admission to Millbrook without a financial aid award. We do place a small number on a waitlist in the event funds should come available. If a student chooses to enroll at Millbrook without financial aid, there is no guarantee that the school will be able to offer financial support in subsequent years.
 
Families of new and returning students applying for financial aid should direct any questions about the process to Director of Financial Aid Anna Birnbaum (abirnbaum@millbrook.org, 845-677-8261 x199).

How to Apply for Financial Aid

List of 6 items.

  • 1. Indicate on your admission application

    that you are applying for financial aid.
  • 2. Complete the Parent Financial Statement (PFS) online by February 1

    Starting on October 1, you may begin the application process and access the PFS online at https://www.solutionsbysss.com/parents

    You will be given a username and password which enables you to return to your PFS at a later date before submitting it.

    List Millbrook as a recipient of your PFS using the school code 5092.

    In the case of separated or divorced parents, each parent is required to complete a PFS and submit supporting tax documents regardless of custodial agreements.

    In addition to entering all of the requisite financial information, we encourage you to use the Notes section in the PFS to explain any special or unusual circumstances.

    There is a $51 non-refundable fee for submitting the PFS. If your family qualifies for a fee waiver, the payment will be waived automatically.
     
    If you have any questions about the SSS financial aid application, you may contact the SSS Customer Service Center: 1-800-344-8328 or sss@solutionsbysss.com . Assistance is available in English and Spanish.
  • 3. Submit tax documents directly to SSS by February 1

    SUBMIT TAX DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY TO SSS BY FEBRUARY 1
    2020 W2s and/or 1099s
    2020 1040 signed and with all supporting schedules and forms. If self-employed,  please submit corresponding K-1s, form 1065 or 1120s along with your schedule E.
     
    2021 W2s and/or 1099s
    2021 1040 signed and with all supporting schedules and forms. If self-employed,  please submit corresponding K-1s, form 1065 or 1120s along with your schedule E.
     
    2022 W2 and/or 1099
    2022 1040 with all supporting schedules and forms – as soon as it is complete but no later than April 15.
     
    Note that if you are a returning family, the tax documents from 2020 and 2021 will be brought forward to your 2023-24 application. You will not have to re-submit them.
  • 4. If you have other children in tuition-charging institutions

    IF YOU HAVE OTHER CHILDREN IN TUITION-CHARGING SCHOOLS
    Please send a copy of the most recent tuition bill and/or financial aid award letter to abirnbaum@millbrook.org or mail it to: Office of Financial Aid, Millbrook School, 131 Millbrook School Road, Millbrook, NY 12545
  • 5. Admission Decisions

    New students are notified of admission and financial aid decisions on March 10.  Enrollment contracts and deposits are due to the School by April 10.

    Families of returning students can expect to receive their financial aid awards and enrollment contracts in mid to late February.
  • 6. International Student Financial Aid

    In addition to completing the PFS, Canadian applicants should submit the following to the “Other Documents” section of their SSS account:
     
    2021 federal and provincial tax returns
    2022 T4s
    International Financial Aid Form
     
    All other International students should complete the following:
     
    2021 and 2022 tax returns
    Proof of Income for 2021 and 2022


Tuition for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

 
Boarding Students
Tuition, room, and board $75,750
General fee $750
International student fee $4,500
Canadian I-20 fee $300
 
Day Students
Tuition $57,500
General fee $500
Per diem overnight fee $35

Families are responsible for books, supplies, some athletic equipment, personal expenses, and travel. On average these costs run between $800 and $1,200 per year.

Families have three options when it comes to payment of tuition, and for each option, payment can be made by check, direct debit, or credit card (fee applies). After the enrollment deposit is received and applied to your account, the following payment options are available:
  1. Full tuition payment in July.*
  2. Two-payment plan due in July and November.
  3. A 7-month payment plan beginning May and ending in November. 
*International students (non-Canadian) must pay full tuition by July.