Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are vital to a private school. The revenue generated by tuition and fees, along with charitable giving, funds CIS’s operating expenses as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. It is possible to pay tuition in one of three ways*:
1) In full by the beginning of the school year
2) In two payments: 60% by July 1st and 40% by December 1st
3) In nine monthly installments over the course of the school year
* A $500 non-refundable deposit is due with the signed enrollment contract in order to secure enrollment at CIS.
It is important to note that tuition does not cover the full cost of a CIS education. The additional cost per student is made up primarily through charitable donations from CIS families and members of the community who recognize the school’s value to mid-Missouri’s children.
After you visit CIS, we think you will find that the school provides children with an inestimably enriching education, rife with opportunities and experiences the value of which lies beyond quantification. Every family helps to make possible for CIS students much depth of experience, and we thank them for their continued belief in the school’s mission and steadfast financial support!
Download CIS’s current tuition and fees information in PDF format.
Financial Aid
Columbia Independent School offers financial assistance, through a grants program, to families who qualify. The amount of the assistance is based upon an objective assessment of family need and may range from several hundred dollars to 90% of total fees. Each year, substantial resources are allotted to this program. Students applying for aid must qualify for admission on the same basis as all other applicants. Admissions decisions are made prior to, and separate from, decisions concerning financial aid.
All families applying for tuition assistance are required to submit a confidential Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey. CIS provides these forms and additional instructions on request, which families then submit to SSS along with the processing fee. Families may also complete the SSS form online at http://www.nais.org/financialaid/sss.
Financial aid awards are made for one academic year; applicants for aid must re-apply each year in order to be eligible. It is possible to receive an estimate of your aid package before your child’s acceptance. This estimate is non-binding and subject to change according to the family’s official SSS report, as well as the Admissions Committee’s decision regarding the candidate’s eligibility for admission. Please call Director of Admissions Keija Parssinen at 777-9257 to discuss what is needed in order to receive an estimate.
