Tuition for 2008-2009 School Year

Financial Aid
The Leelanau School offers financial assistance to approximately 30% of its student body each year. It is not possible for Leelanau to consider requests for financial aid after admissions decisions are made, therefore families must indicate their intention of applying for aid on the application form or by calling the Admissions Office at (231) 334-5800.

Please Note: Because Leelanau’s funds are limited, financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to students with demonstrated financial need. We encourage those students who are considering attending Leelanau to submit their application as soon as possible. Leelanau cannot guarantee that all candidates who qualify for financial aid will receive assistance. Please find the instructions below.

Leelanau is committed to a strong financial aid program. The School seeks students and families committed to using their own resources to make a Leelanau education their top priority. Leelanau expects each family to stretch their financial resources to meet a fair portion of the cost of attending The Leelanau School.

The Beals Scholarship
As announced in December 1997, the Skipper Beals Scholarship Program has become available to a special group of Leelanau School constituents, specifically "Legacy Families", which include children and grandchildren of alumni, siblings of alumni, and siblings of current students.

Each year a series of "Beals Scholarships" will be available for award to qualified applicants. As they are merit scholarships, these awards would not preclude the possibility of a family’s qualifying for additional financial assistance based on need. Each Beals Scholarship will be renewed annually for the remainder of the recipient’s career at Leelanau, subject to satisfactory review by the School’s Scholarship Committee.

Candidates for the Beals Scholarship must indicate their interest in the scholarship while inquiring about the School and the regular admissions process. Students who apply must be in good standing at their current school both academically and socially. The Admissions Committee will evaluate each candidate based on current and previous grades, recommendations, and a personal interview.


Instructions for Applying for Financial Assistance
To ensure adequate time to process all of the information necessary to evaluate a family’s financial situation and a timely response from The Leelanau School (be it for a new enrollment or a re-enrollment), we ask that the following forms be forwarded to the Admissions Office as soon as possible. Please note that the original copy of the Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) must be sent to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, NJ. A copy of the PFS plus all other forms are to be sent directly to Leelanau.

The Leelanau School Application for Financial Assistance
This information allows you to provide Leelanau with any additional information that might not be required by SSS. Usually, it is the first piece of information that we might receive in the application process.

Parents' Financial Statement (PFS)
This document is published by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) of the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ. Anyone wishing to be considered for financial assistance from The Leelanau School must submit a completed PFS to the SSS. Please read carefully the general information section on the front page of the PFS before following the instructions for completing the form. Particularly important is the request that all circled items on the form and any unusual family circumstances be explained in the space provided under item 31 of the PFS. Failure to follow these directions may cause your request for financial assistance to be denied. Before mailing your completed PFS to Princeton, please make two copies: one to be sent to Leelanau; the other to be retained for your records.

Federal Income Tax Return(s) with All Schedules
A signed copy of your most recent Form 1040 statement of federal income tax along with all attached schedules is required in order for Leelanau to render a financial aid decision.

Special or Unusual Circumstances
If you own a business or a farm, you must complete the Business/Farm statement (which is available either from Leelanau or the SSS) and submit it directly to Leelanau, not the SSS. In considering applications for financial assistance, the matter of divorce or separation of parents can be a difficult one. Leelanau must consider the assets and earnings potential of both natural parents, if living, before making any award, and the School may not be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses. Both parents are required to file the appropriate paperwork and send it directly to Leelanau. If either parent has remarried, assets and earning potential of the stepparent will be considered, always bearing in mind the obligation of that stepparent to his or her own natural children.

When families submit late or incomplete applications, those applications cannot be considered along with those applications that are submitted correctly and on time. To request financial aid forms, or should you ever have questions, please contact the Admissions Office by phone: (231) 334-5800 or email: admissions@leelanau.org