Financial Aid at NIS
Making an International School Education a Reality
Educating your child at a fully accredited IB International School like NIS can be an expensive endeavor. Although a non-profit entity, NIS is still dependent on tuition and fees for its revenue, and the recruitment of quality teachers and the maintenance of top-class facilities comes at a cost.
But the price tag of an NIS education doesn’t mean that quality learning is out of reach for your child.
As an inclusive community school, NIS strives to make an NIS education possible for a diverse range of families, and with the right information and planning, you may discover there are options available to make your child’s future at NIS a reality.
Read below for general information about financial aid at NIS. Applicants are expected to be familiar with the criteria for applying for financial aid, the supporting documents required to submit, and the application processes. Newly applying families are requested to first contact the Admissions and Development Office (admissions@nis.ac.jp) with any questions.
What types of Financial Aid are Available?
There are two possible financial aid scenarios when aid may be available:
How is Financial Aid Funded?
Funds come from two sources: the annual operating budget and donations. At NIS, tuition and fees finance roughly 97% of the budget, with the remaining 3% funded through grants and contributions from individuals and corporations to the school’s annual fundraising efforts, the “Annual Giving Fund.” NIS is grateful to the entire community for supporting our Financial Aid program and for making an NIS education accessible to a wider range of families, and in so doing, enriching the quality of education for al enrolled students.
Is Our Family Eligible?
Financial aid is provided on the basis of financial need, which is defined as the difference between educational expenses and the family’s ability to pay. Each application is judged on its merits and expenses such as the number of children attending NIS, any NIS bus fees and any other extraordinary family expenses are all taken into consideration. Consequently, while it is not possible to determine a specific income level at which a family is eligible or ineligible, any family for whom the gap between income and expense will make the annual tuition bill difficult to support, is encouraged to apply.
Some families require assistance beyond what the program can offer, and unfortunately NIS is not able to meet all of the needs of all applicants.
In considering financial aid, the committee is highly cognizant of the fact that awards given in financial aid come from the tuition paid by other families, many of whom are making significant financial sacrifices to afford and NIS education. Consequently, while all families are encouraged to apply for financial aid in the case that they feel it is needed, equally we ask all applying families to appreciate the lens through which financial aid is granted. Families who have significant income or assets and who otherwise could afford an NIS education by making reasonable adjustments within their own family expenses are unlikely to be awarded financial aid.
How is Financial Aid Allocated?
Financial aid determination is entrusted to an independent Board Financial Aid Committee that uses a model to assess income and expenses, and then apply professional judgment regarding the special circumstances of individual applicants. The committee is tasked with administering the available funds in an equitable and responsible manner while preserving the confidentiality of applicant families.
Applying for financial aid does not guarantee that applicants will be eligible to receive it. Conversely, simply being eligible does not guarantee that there will be aid available. he amount of aid offered by the school depends on each family’s financial circumstances, the funds available, and the school’s policies.
Administration of the Program
The school’s policies on financial aid are determined by the NIS Board of Directors and are administered by a Financial Aid Committee convened by the board.
Processing financial aid applications and managing the program’s records and communications are responsibilities of the Financial Aid Office under the direction of the Head of School. The Financial Aid Office will confidentially share applicant information with the Admissions & Development Office (and vice versa) in order to support the smooth transition of students and families into the NIS community.
Ready to Apply for Financial Aid?
Use the form HERE to start the application. The application is ONLY available online. Make sure you have reviewed the supporting documents that are required to submit an application and also know when the Application Windows are.
Questions?
For questions about Admissions and general information about Financial Aid at NIS, contact the Admissions & Development Office. For more specific questions about the application or required materials, contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@nis.ac.jp