Tuition & Affording Vistamar

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

There is a one-time new student fee of $2,100 for all students.

The cost for books and miscellaneous expenses range from $400-700 per year, depending on the student’s schedule of classes.

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. The chart below illustrates the range.

Contacts for Business Office Needs

List of 2 members.

Cristina Mendoza

Senior Accountant
Jason Gregory

Assistant Head of School

How to Apply for Moderated Tuition

Vistamar uses the services of Schools and Student Services (SSS) to evaluate and recommend a family’s financial capacity to pay tuition, but the final decision rests with our Moderated Tuition Committee.

For the 2023 - 2024 Academic Year for 9th graders, moderated tuition applications for new families were due February 1, 2023.

Moderated Tuition/ Financial Aid Workshop - January 12, 2023

Vistamar provided a short “how to” session to walk you through the steps and explain Vistamar’s Moderated Tuition program, a robust, need-based offering that serves a wide variety of family circumstances.

In case you missed that event, here are:

--the video from that presentation, and
--the slides from that presentation.

Steps to Apply for Moderated Tuition

List of 4 items.

STEP ONE

Apply by going to sssandtadsfa.force.com/familyportal

and set up an account. Moderated Tuition applications are due by February 1, 2023.

Be sure to include code number 4027 so that your information is forwarded to Vistamar School.
STEP TWO

Complete the Parent's Financial Statement (PFS) and upload or attach all supplemental documents within your SSS portal. The cost to complete your application is $60 per application. Fee waivers are available, see below.

Schools and Student Services (SSS) will use the Federal poverty guidelines, which take into account family size, income, and asset information provided in the Parents Financial Statement (PFS) itself to assess the family situation, and will automatically apply a waiver if the family qualifies.
STEP THREE

Families will be notified if they have been awarded Moderated Tuition by early March 2023.

Please note that some families may be placed in a waiting pool, pending availability of additional funds.
ALL RETURNING FAMILIES

All returning families who wish to participate in Vistamar’s Moderated Tuition Program for the 2023-2024 academic year should provide all updated information by January 10th, 2023.

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, is also 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 file a new financial statement 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 usually 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 stepparents. 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.