“Your tuition support policy was instrumental in our girls being able to attend ISP; it was truly life-changing for us. Thank you all very much for the time that you put into these decisions, and thank you to ISP for being the kind of school that lives its values. By giving kids from lower-income families the chance to have a first-rate education as global citizens, ISP is truly changing the world.”

— ISP family with two recent alumni students

Tuition Support

International School of Portland strives to make our program accessible to as many children as possible. Tuition support – otherwise known as financial aid – is available on the basis of demonstrated need. It is provided in the form of grants and tuition discounts. Tuition support is based entirely on a family’s ability to pay for tuition – no other criteria is used.

If you believe that your resources are not sufficient to meet the total costs of an education from International School of Portland, you are encouraged to apply for tuition support. In 2022 – 23, the average household income of a student receiving aid was a little over $100,000, and an average award covered roughly one third of tuition. Since there are so many variables that are considered in the application, no two applications are identical so estimating awards is impossible before an application is completed.

  • Families must re-apply for every year that they wish to be considered for support. The school gives priority for tuition support to its returning students.
  • Need-based tuition support is available to students in all grades.
  • Tuition support plays no role in our offers for admission to the school.
  • For more information concerning the process, deadlines, and more, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@intlschool.org.

Please note: International School of Portland cannot review tuition support applications before the deadlines. All applications submitted by the deadlines will be evaluated together. Please also note that the financial aid application is year specific. If the form for the incorrect year is used, the Tuition Support Committee may be unaware that a family has applied for aid.

For a better understanding of tuition support at independent schools, please refer to the free report “Understanding Private School Financial Aid: What it is & How to Apply“, by the National Association of Independent Schools – of which ISP is a member.

 

Apply for Tuition Support

International School of Portland uses a reputable outside service, FACTS, to receive and evaluate tuition support applications. FACTS considers all resources and expenses to calculate an amount that a family can afford toward the cost of tuition. The school’s Tuition Support Committee then reviews each application and makes a final award based upon the analysis by FACTS.

The FACTS Financial Aid Application is now Available for the 2024-25 School Year.

Tuition Support Documentation

Depending on your application, some or all of the following documents may be required.

  • FACTS’ financial aid application (completed online)
  • Copies of U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (usually two years).
  • Dependent Statement if claiming more than 4 dependents
  • Copies of W-2 Wage and Tax Statements.
  • Mortgage/rent information
  • Investment information: 529, 401(k), 403(b)
  • Unusual expenses such as funeral costs or flooding repairs
  • Copies of supporting documentation for household Nontaxable Income (example: Inheritances, alimony payments (for divorce decrees finalized after 2018), child support payments, most healthcare benefits).

A complete list of required documents will be available once you have submitted your application, along with instructions on how to upload your documents.

 

To apply for tuition support, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the income level at which a family is no longer eligible for tuition support?

There is no specific income limit. If you feel you cannot pay all the costs yourself, it’s worth the effort to ask whether aid is available.

What is the timeline for applying for tuition support?
  • January: Begin the financial aid application process.
  • End of February: Your financial aid applications are due.
  • March: ISP begins sending out admission decisions to new families. ISP will continue to enroll families as long as space is available.
  • April: ISP begins sending out tuition support decisions.
Do I Need to Apply for Tuition Support Each Year that My Child is Enrolled?

Yes. The Tuition Support application process must be repeated for each school year, and while we cannot guarantee the awards from year to year, ISP does its very best to try and meet the needs of returning students.


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