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Affording DA

We believe that a Durham Academy education should be accessible to students of all backgrounds — regardless of their families' financial means.

The purpose of DA's financial aid program is twofold: to assist families whose only barrier to an independent school education is the cost of tuition, and to enhance the entire student body through socioeconomic, cultural and geographic diversity. 

We are committed to enrolling the most dynamic student body possible, regardless of families' ability to pay the full tuition; to that end, admissions decisions are made prior to evaluating families' financial need. Financial aid awards are offered in the form of scholarship grants, not loans, and do not have to be repaid.

DA offers financial aid to families from a wide range of income levels, and we encourage families to apply for financial aid if they believe they need any level of support.
 

Find Out How the Financial Aid Process Works
 

Middle School Arts & World Languages Center Staircase

18%

of Students Receive Some Level of Financial Aid

$4.5M

Committed to Financial Aid Annually

$18,516

Average Financial Aid Award, Ranging from $1,000 to Nearly a Full Year's Tuition

30

Minutes or Less to Apply for Financial Aid (usually!)

Tuition & Fees

Grade Levels

Tuition, 2024–2025

Pre-K   

$19,350

Kindergarten $25,250

Grades 1–4 

$30,050
Grades 5–8 $31,650
Grades 9–12 $34,050
Additional Fees
Student Capital Fee for New Students
(one-time fee)
$3,000
Textbook Costs (grades 5–12) Average of $500–$700 per year
Tuition Refund Plan
(required of all financial aid recipients)
Annual premiums of $120–$211
Optional: Extended Day & After-School Enrichments  Fees range from $40 for a single day Extended Day drop-in to $5,010 for a year-long Extended Day contract.

Applying for Financial Aid

How Does the Financial Aid Process Work?

Durham Academy provides financial aid on the basis of demonstrated family financial need. We use an independent third party, Clarity, to determine an applicant family’s ability to afford tuition. 

Most families are able to complete the Clarity application in less than 30 minutes. The application is also mobile-friendly and does not need to be completed in a single sitting; you can always save your progress and return later.

Durham Academy is not always able to meet the demonstrated need of all families who apply.

Are You Ready to Apply for Financial Aid? Follow These Steps:

What Does Financial Aid Include?

Chemistry teacher addresses Upper School students.

Our financial aid application deadline for the 2024–2025 school year was Dec. 8, 2023. If you are interested in applying for aid for the 2025–2026 school year, the application will open in fall 2024.

View All Financial Aid FAQs


¡Bienvenidos a Durham Academy! Para información en español sobre admisiones y ayuda financiera, contacten a Margarita Throop, un enlace bilingüe para las familias latinas en DA. margarita.throop@da.org

Need Help with the Financial Aid Application Process?

Contact Clarity

  • Reach Clarity at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752 for assistance in both English and Spanish. 
  • After you begin the application process, in-app support is available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen.
     

Financial Aid Application Guide (in English)

Guía de Aplicación Para Las Familias (en español)