Frequently asked Questions Regarding Financial Assistance

All students accepted to SI are equally deserving of the opportunity to join our community.  Financial assistance is granted to families based on economic need, not academic or co-curricular merit.  This allows us to use our available funding in an equitable and inclusive manner, valuing the unique contributions of a diverse student body.  We use the TADs financial assistance application platform to help us determine an applicants ability to contribute financially towards their students' education, and offer tuition assistance as needed.

All families who have a student at St. Ignatius are eligible to apply for financial assistance.

The following information is due on January 31, 2022:

• Completed Federal Tax Returns for 2020 (personal and business)
• 2021 W-2’s from each household member
• January 2022 pay stubs from each household member
• Completed Federal Tax Returns for 2021 (personal and business) by April 31, 2022

For the 2020-2021 academic year, the school distributed $5.6 million to 26% of the student population. The average grant was $14,000 per student. 

Students who receive financial assistance are also invited to participate in our Magis High School program, and may be offered academic assistance and other social support.  These students do not "owe" SI anything in return for financial assistance, but are expected to take advantage of every opportunity to thrive as a member of our community.

While the financial assistance committee realizes the challenges and costs associated with a college education, it keeps college age children out of the direct evaluation. The college process also has a financial assistance as well as grant and loan processes that parents can access for assistance.

St. Ignatius believes that parents have an ethical obligation to pay for the educational expenses of their children to the extent that they are able. This takes precedence over the school's responsibility to provide financial assistance. The Financial Assistance Committee will consider the assets of both natural parents, if living, before making any award and cannot be bound by a decree, assertion or any other agreement that one parent has disclaimed, legally or otherwise, regarding any responsibility for educational expenses. I

In view of this policy, for separated or divorced families, each separate household who is financially responsible for tuition, must submit an application in order to be considered for tuition assistance for their portion of tuition. Please refer to the TADS User Guide for more information. 

Waiving the requirement of the non-custodial parent will be considered ONLY under the following circumstances:

1. documented information is provided that states the location of the non-custodial parent is unknown; OR
2. documented information is provided that the non-custodial parent has given no support AND has had no contact with the family for at least two years.

Documentation will be accepted from a doctor, lawyer, minister, or any such person outside the immediate family. If there are extenuating circumstances that might warrant waiving this requirement, written request must be uploaded with the TADS application and sent to the Financial Assistance Manager.

All dollars committed to students come from the St. Ignatius endowment, and only go to offset tuition. TADS is a guide for the school committee and provides St. Ignatius with a summarized report.  The information is reviewed by our Financial Assistance Committee and matched with the amount of funding we have available.

The complete “SI experience” includes additional out-of-pocket expenses associated with full participation in student life at the school.   The Arrupe Assistance Program, named after the long time General Superior of the Jesuits, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, offers subsidies and discounts for on-campus dining, books, classroom materials, co-curricular and athletic costs.  The specific benefits depend on a student's level of tuition assistance.

If you are a current student at St. Ignatius and would like to file an appeal for your 2021-2022 tuition assistance award, please click here.