Afford
Our Indexed Tuition program brings the cost of a Thaden education within reach for a broad range of families in Northwest Arkansas. Instead of paying a fixed rate, each family's contribution toward the cost of a Thaden education is individually determined or "indexed" on the basis of its financial resources. All families, including those that pay the maximum tuition, pay well below the actual cost of a Thaden education.
| Household Gross Income Range | Range of Family Contribution 2021-22* |
| $80,000 and below | $3,000 or less |
| $80,000 to $100,000 | $3,000 to $5,500 |
| $100,000 to $120,000 | $5,500 to $8,000 |
| $120,000 to $140,000 | $8,000 to $11,000 |
| $140,000 to $160,000 | $11,000 to $14,000 |
| $160,000 to $180,000 | $14,000 to $17,000 |
| $180,000 to $200,000 | $17,000 to $20,500 |
| $200,000 to $220,000 | $20,500 to $23,500 |
| $220,000 and above | $23,500 to $27,600** |
What is a family contribution?
Instead of paying a fixed rate, each family contributes to the cost of a Thaden education which is individually determined (indexed) based on a family's financial resources.
An indexed family contribution is all-inclusive: it covers tuition as well as transportation to school, two daily meals (breakfast and lunch), all instructional materials, athletic uniforms, the cost of afterschool activities, field trips, and the use of a personal laptop for the academic year.
How is a family contribution determined?
- To ensure that tuition determinations are equitable and confidential, Thaden School has engaged FAST, one of the nation's leading tuition management services. Families who wish to apply will submit several financial documents to FAST, including recent pay stubs, W-2s, filed tax returns, and account statements.
- All information submitted in an application for indexed tuition is held in the strictest confidence and reviewed separately from the student's application for admission. Families that elect not to apply for indexed tuition will pay the maximum tuition rates.
- Applications for indexed tuition are separate from the online application for admission but should be completed simultaneously.
- Families must apply for Indexed Tuition each year and tuition can move up or down in line with a family's economic profile.
What does your family contribution support?
- Funds generated through tuition are used primarily to recruit and retain faculty of the highest quality and to maintain our small student-teacher ratios. For this reason, our indexed tuition program not only benefits all families financially but also enhances the overall quality of a Thaden education by enabling us to create a more balanced and diverse learning community where many perspectives meet.
- Many of our costs, including the design and construction of our new campus, with state-of-the-art facilities, are supported by philanthropic contributions. In addition, Thaden generates income through grants, investments, and fundraising activities.
Family Contribution Examples
- A household with an annual gross income of $100,000 will pay more than $5,200 in tuition if the family also has considerable additional assets to draw upon such as savings, investments, or gifts.
- A family contribution for a household with an annual income of $100,000 who also has significant medical costs or tuition obligations might be expected to pay less than $5,200 in tuition.
- A family contribution for a household with multiple children and an annual income that exceeds $220,000 can expect to pay more than the single maximum tuition amount (which is calculated per child). In no instance would a family pay more than a single maximum tuition per child.
- Families with multiple households who apply for Indexed Tuition will be required to submit documentation of income and expenses for each household with custodial responsibilities for the student. Each household’s Indexed Tuition application will be confidential and completed separately. Some exceptions to this policy may apply.