At Columbus School for Girls, we are committed to making our outstanding educational experience accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. We offer need-based financial assistance to students whose families would otherwise be unable to afford our tuition. Over 20% of CSG students receive financial aid. 

All financial aid grants and scholarships at CSG are based on financial need and are intended as a supplement to a family's financial resources. Every family is required to invest something toward their child's education. We do not offer merit or athletic scholarships, with the philosophy that all students accepted to CSG are highly qualfied and talented individuals.

Financial aid is offered at all grade levels, but is not offered for half day students in either the 3/4 or 4/5 class, nor to students enrolled in the Parents and Children Together (PACT) class. Families of students receiving financial aid must reapply every year, and financial aid awards will be adjusted to reflect changes in tuition and in a family’s financial circumstances. CSG makes a long-term commitment to continue to provide financial aid to a family as long as they demonstrate need. 

Financial Aid Process

The financial aid committee uses the analysis provided by School and Student Services by NAIS, our financial aid management system, as a starting point, and will consider additional information provided by the family when determining each family’s ability to pay tuition.

Financial aid awards are finalized as soon as possible after students have been accepted. Columbus School for Girls administers its admission, financial aid, and employment policies without regard to race, religion, creed, sexual orientation, or national origin. 

Application Procedure

For New Applicants

Application for financial aid is separate from application for admission. Applications for Financial Aid are due by March 4, 2013 for current CSG families and February 15, 2013 for new applicants.

After December 1, the CSG Admission Office will mail you a financial aid application package if your daughter is currently enrolled and receiving financial aid, if your daughter will be a new student and you have indicated on the Application for Admission that you intend to apply for financial aid, or if you have otherwise notified the Admission Office that your family will be applying for financial aid for the upcoming school year.

Families submit a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) to SSS that contains detailed financial information. From the information provided on this form, SSS uses a standardized calculation nationally accepted by independent schools to compute a family’s tuition contribution. It takes into consideration such things as income, assets, liabilities, family size, and number of children attending tuition-charging schools.  To read more about SSS's document security, go to http://sss.nais.org/

How do I apply for financial aid?

ONLINE
1. Starting on December 1, go to www.sss.nais.org/parents.
2. Click on the prompt to begin your Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS). You only have to complete one PFS even if you have several children applying to our school.
3. You will be given a password that will allow you to return to your PFS at a later date before submitting it.
4. Mail or upload the following documents directly to SSS:

• Copy of your signed 2012 Federal tax forms (IRS form 1040)
• Copy of all 2012 federal tax schedules filed with your return
• Copy of 2012 W-2 forms
• Copy of 2012 1099 forms
• Original signed, but not dated, IRS form 4506
• SSS Business/Farm Statement if you own a business or farm  

Mail Documents to:
SSS by NAIS

Application Processing Center

P.O. Box 449

Randolph, MA 02368

If you have questions while completing the application, please contact:

Student Services for Financial Aid (SSS)
Customer Service Center for Parents
1-800-344-8328 (Mon-Fri: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m - 4 p.m)

Columbus School for Girls
Jenni Biehn, Director of Admission and Financial Aid
614.252.0781, ext. 104

Notification of Financial Aid

Notification of financial aid will be mailed on April 12, 2013 to all parents or guardians who have completed their financial aid file, whose child has been admitted and is officially enrolled in CSG (contract and deposit have been received), and whose account is in good standing.