Tuition and Financial Assistance
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are vital to a private school. The revenue generated by tuition and fees, along with charitable giving, provides for CIS's operating expenses as a not-for-profit organization.
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 to CIS; donations from CIS families and members of the community who recognize the value that CIS brings to their children's education and to Columbia.
We hope you view your education not simply as a cost, but as an investment in your child and his or her future. After seeing what CIS has to offer you child, we think you will find CIS to be more affordable than you think and an opportunity you can't afford to miss.
Download CIS's current tuition and fees information in PDF format.
Founders Scholarship Program
The Founders Scholarship Program is designed for students entering grades 8 through 12 who fit the mission of Columbia Independent School, but might not otherwise consider attending. This is a merit-based program, thus no demonstration of financial need is required. However, recipients may apply for financial aid, through the normal process, for tuition and required fees over and above their merit scholarship award.
The first step for interested students who are currently in grades 7 through 11 is to take the scholarship exam. Based on the exam scores, a pool of semi-finalists will be selected who, along with their parents, will be interviewed by a faculty committee. Recipients of the scholarships (one full and a number of partial scholarships will be awarded) will be selected based on "academic, physical or creative excellence and the candidate's ability to make significant contributions to the CIS community." Once a Founders Scholarship is awarded there is an expectation that it will be renewed as long as the recipient is in good standing and contributing to the school community.
Current CIS students enrolled in seventh grade may also participate in the program.
See Admissions/Financial Assistance dates for the date of this year's scholarship exam. Register for the exam by calling the Admissions office at 573-815-5965.
Financial Aid
Columbia Independent School offers financial assistance to the families of qualified students through a grant program. 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 Student Scholarship Service (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 apply each year.
Outside Resources - KeyBank AchieverLoan
KeyBank USA offers a program for financing K-12 independent school education, "AchieverLoan". KeyBank USA does not charge an application fee. To learn more about eligibility and loan amounts call 1-800-540-1855 or visit www.key.com/K-12.
