Tuition & Affording Vistamar

Affording Vistamar

Introducing “Moderated Tuition”—Vistamar’s exceptional take on financial aid.

At Vistamar, we are deeply committed to working with qualified students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to assist with tuition costs. To do this, we’ve developed a robust, need-based program we call Moderated Tuition. Many schools refer to these programs as financial aid, but Vistamar’s program is preferable because it serves a wider variety of family circumstances including families who have moderate need.

Tuition

Vistamar School’s tuition falls within the median range of independent schools throughout greater Los Angeles. Our tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is listed below:

Domestic Students: $45,468
International Students: $49,366

The cost of tuition includes daily lunch, athletic fees, and most other student expenses that are charged separately at other schools.

How to Apply for Moderated Tuition

Vistamar uses the services of a third party financial group, Clarity, to evaluate and recommend a family’s financial capacity to pay tuition. It is important to note that the final decision rests with our Moderated Tuition Committee.

For the 2024-2025 Academic Year:
--For New Families: Moderated Tuition applications will be due January 19, 2024.
--For Current Families: Moderated Tuition applications will be due on December 1, 2023.

Steps to Apply for Moderated Tuition

List of 4 items.

STEP ONE

Apply by going to https://auth.clarityapp.com/en/signup/ to create your account. Moderated tuition applications are due by Friday, December 1, 2023 for returning families and Friday, January 19, 2024 for new families.

Start by adding household and applicant information. Select the school(s) to which you are applying.
STEP TWO

Sign and submit a Form 4506c to give Clarity permission to pull your prior year tax returns. This means you won't need to upload any of them yourself.
STEP THREE

Complete your financial information, including income, expenses, assets, and debts. The application fee is $60 per household and covers all the Clarity schools to which you are applying.

Moderated tuition awards will be included in your application decision on March 8, 2024.
ALL RETURNING FAMILIES

All returning families who wish to continue to participate in Vistamar’s Moderated Tuition Program for the 2024-2025 academic year need to provide all updated information via Clarity by December 1, 2023.

Moderated Tuition Team

List of 3 members.

Jason Gregory

Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management & Strategy
Lorena Campos

Registrar/Mod Tuition & Bus. Off. Administrator
Cristina Mendoza

Senior Accountant

FAQ

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

Will a student’s grades affect determination of moderated tuition?

Moderated Tuition is determined strictly on the basis of a family’s financial circumstances. A student must remain in good standing, academically and behaviorally, to be invited to re-enroll the following year, but such decisions are independent from determinations of tuition obligation.
How does my home equity affect the calculation of my tuition obligation?

All real estate is taken into consideration when a family applies for Moderated Tuition. Mortgages and lines of equity for a primary residence are common liabilities that are evaluated during the process. Other real estate, such as rental properties, second homes, or deeded family land, are shared on the application, and the impact depends on how it affects discretionary income.
Once a family has qualified for moderated tuition, is that tuition level guaranteed for all four years of the student’s attendance?

Parents must apply for Moderated Tuition every year. A significant change in financial status can impact the determination of tuition to be paid the following year. If there is no significant change in circumstances, the tuition obligation generally remains proportionately the same.
How does the school deal with divorced parents in determining financial capacity?

The Moderated Tuition Committee needs a complete picture of a family’s financial situation, which includes expectations of support from non-custodial parents and step-parents. Consequently, we generally require complete financial disclosures from all of the households directly involved in a student’s life.
Will my child’s chance for admission be hurt if I apply for moderated tuition?

No! The Admissions Committee does not receive the parents’ financial information, and a family’s capacity to pay tuition is determined independently by the Moderated Tuition Committee.

Payment Plans

Families have the option of making a single payment for annual tuition, due in June, with the option to purchase Tuition Refund Insurance.

Or, families may choose a range of multiple payment plans, from two payments up to ten payments annually. The first payment is due in June. A processing fee of $25 per payment will be added. Purchase of Tuition Refund Insurance is mandatory if choosing to use a multiple payment plan.