Tuition & Affording Vistamar

Tuition

Vistamar School’s tuition falls within the median range of independent schools throughout greater Los Angeles. Our tuition for the 2020-2021 school year is listed below:

Domestic Students: $40,500

International Students: $44,000

There is a one-time new student fee of $1,900 for all students.

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

Affording Vistamar

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

We at Vistamar 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.

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.

The application process for 2020 - 2021 Academic Year for new 9th graders opened August 1, 2020.

Steps to Apply for Moderated Tuition

List of 4 items.

STEP ONE

Apply by going to sss.nais.org/parents and set up an account. Moderated Tuition applications are due by January 31, 2021.

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

Complete the Parent's Finanacial Statement (PFS) and upload or attach all supplemental documents within your SSS portal. The cost to complete your application is $51.

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

Families will be notified if they have been awarded Moderated Tuition in the first week of March 2021.

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 2019-2020 academic year should make every effort to meet the January 2021, priority-filing deadline.

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 proportionally 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.