Affording Episcopal

Families who feel they will or might need financial assistance to help cover the cost of an Episcopal Collegiate education are encouraged to indicate so on the application for admission. They should then submit an application as described below:

• Episcopal Collegiate School uses the Clarity platform for financial aid applications. Families that received financial aid last year should use their same Clarity account. Families new to the financial aid process should first create an account with Clarity. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. At the end of the application, there is a $65 fee to submit, although some families may qualify for a waiver of that fee. If you need assistance, please refer to the Clarity Family Information Guide for instructions on how to navigate the online application.
• As part of the application process, families will be asked to authorize Clarity to access their prior year tax return and W2 information via the IRS. Note that in some cases, the Financial Aid Committee may reach out and request additional information.
• An application for financial aid is considered only after the student has applied for admission and has been accepted for enrollment to Episcopal.

• Returning families are asked to complete their application by February 13. Families must be in good financial standing with the school in order to qualify for approval of financial aid.
• New Families are asked to complete the application by March 1.
• Families submitting applications by these deadlines will be notified of financial aid committee decisions no later than April 30 in most cases.   
• After these deadlines, applications will be considered based on availability of budgeted financial aid funds and are likely to be limited.

Every financial aid award is made for one year. Each year, parents must re-apply and submit the necessary documents through Clarity. While significant changes in a family’s financial circumstances can impact future financial aid awards, the Financial Aid Committee’s goal is to maintain funding at proportionate levels for a student year over year.

An application for financial aid is considered only after the student has applied for admission and has been accepted for enrollment to Episcopal. Applicants accepted for admission and qualifying for need-based financial aid outnumber those whom the School can afford to support; therefore some students will be accepted to Episcopal but may not awarded financial aid. Consideration for financial aid is given in the following order. Funds are not reserved for families whose Clarity application or tax forms are received late.

• Applications from current financial aid recipients who have completed all financial aid forms and re-enrollment by the deadline.
• New applications from currently enrolled families, if completed and re-enrolled by the deadline.
• New applications from candidates accepted by the Admission Committee for enrollment.
• Applications completed after the specified deadlines, but only if funds remain available.

Families must be in good financial standing with the school in order to qualify for approval of financial aid.

The Arkansas Activities Association, which oversees interscholastic athletic competition in Arkansas, requires that any non-public school provide verification that all students competing in sports receive no more financial aid than is justified based on their financial need, as determined by an independent service. Therefore, any student who receives financial assistance and might possibly compete in interscholastic competition must have a release form signed by their family that authorizes the school to provide information to the AAA if so requested. At Episcopal Collegiate School, over 75% of the student body participates in such interscholastic competition.

All information relating to the financial aid application process is held in the strictest confidence. The Financial Aid Committee makes its decisions in complete confidentiality, both in regard to amount and recipient. In turn, we expect that families receiving financial aid also maintain this policy. Failure of a family to maintain confidentiality may result in the loss of financial aid.

Episcopal Collegiate School provides a $1,500 annual scholarship to children of graduates of the school who also attend Episcopal Collegiate. Students in Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade are eligible for the scholarship. Beyond the 5th grade, alumni families may apply for financial aid.

If you are a graduate of Episcopal Collegiate School and would like your child to be considered for the Young Alumni Scholarship, please contact Mary Jane Briggs at 501.978.4404 or email mjbriggs@episcopalcollegiate.org.