This is the time to invest in your child's future
At Browning, we believe that every child learns better when they are challenged and known by caring adults, which is why we place relationships at the center of all we do. As the only K-12 boys' school on the Upper East Side, we provide a rigorous and supportive curriculum that spans the entire arc of childhood and adolescence, structured to boys' unique strengths. Within our diverse and welcoming community, we nurture boys who become excellent students, dedicated friends, and decent men whose lives will influence others for the better.
We know that the decision to enroll your student in a tuition-charging school is a major financial commitment. It represents a serious investment, but one that will pay dividends over a lifetime: in higher education, in a fulfilling career, and most of all, in a life of purpose and meaning. Parents who are concerned about the cost of attendance should not hesitate to inquire about options to make a Browning education affordable for your family. We are committed to partnering with families as you explore this important educational decision.
Tuition
The tuition for the 2024 - 2025 academic year is $65,625.
Tuition includes:
Lunch
Textbooks, educational technology and instructional materials
Required class trips
A monthly plan allows families to budget their payments over time. Tuition can also be paid in full in two installments. A non-refundable deposit is due at the time of enrollment. Information about tuition payments will be included with your enrollment contract.
“Teachers really know the students here. Some people feel that a rigorous curriculum and love for students are mutually exclusive. But at Browning students learn because they are loved, and they feel safe.”
—current Parent
Tuition Assistance
The Browning School’s tuition assistance program is designed to bridge the gap between our tuition and fees and what a family can afford to pay. We recognize that investing in an independent school education for your son is a significant commitment, and to the extent that our funds permit, we make every effort to meet the financial needs of qualified applicants, as we strive to maintain a socio-economically diverse community.
Tuition assistance is available at every grade level, and is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need, which takes into account a family's income, assets and obligations. Currently, 22% of our student body receives some amount of tuition assistance.
Please don’t let the cost of tuition discourage you from considering what a Browning education can do for your son. Should you have any questions about tuition assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
How to Apply for Tuition Assistance
The Browning School’s tuition assistance program is designed to make a Browning education possible for families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. Browning uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.
To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.
Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as Browning requires some additional documentation to be uploaded including:
Most recent paystub
2024 W-2
Most recent mortgage statement (if applicable)
Tuition statement at other tuition-charging schools (if applicable)
Business tax documents (if applicable)
The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is:
January 9, 2025: For applicant families
February 1, 2025: For returning families
Questions about Clarity
Why does Browning use Clarity?
We have chosen Clarity as our financial aid application provider in order to better serve both our current and prospective families. We are confident that this change is going to make the process of applying for financial aid easier for families.
How does Clarity make it easier for me to apply for financial aid?
Clarity offers a streamlined, mobile-friendly application that can be completed in as short a time as 20 minutes. Additionally, Clarity removes the need to upload your 2023 W2 and 1040 by transferring them directly from the IRS. This reduces the amount of information that you will need to enter manually and makes it possible to complete the application quickly and efficiently.
Is my information secure with Clarity?
Browning takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 and uses enterprise-level security standards including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. For more information, please refer to Clarity’s Privacy Policy.
How will this impact my award?
Just as in prior years, if your financial circumstances have not changed, you will not see significant changes to your award. If you have any questions about your individual circumstance, please reach out to us.
Will I still need to apply every year?
Yes, you will need to submit a Clarity application each year in order to qualify for financial aid; however, Clarity retains your information from previous applications, so it will be even easier to reapply.
Can I complete my Clarity application on my phone or tablet?
Yes! Clarity’s application is fully mobile-friendly so you have access wherever you are.
When do I need to apply?
You must submit your full completed application by:
- January 9, 2025: For applicant families
- February 1, 2025: For returning families
Helpful Links and Resources
If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.
Download Clarity’s Spanish version of the 2024-25 Family Application Guide
Clarity Application Quick Reference Guide (one page walkthrough/tips)
Clarity holds Family Info Night Webinars. Please register to attend either of the following sessions:
A recording from the session on October 18, 2023 is available below:
October 18 - 6:30pm Eastern Recording
Passcode: VFvSTm@4
“Some 20 years ago when we came to America, our family’s main reason for migration was to provide the best education for our kids. We have embraced the philosophy that education is not only defined by what you have become but mostly by the quality of experience you have earned while you’re in school. Browning’s generosity through its financial aid program became a major part in achieving our American dream.”
—current Parent
Frequently Asked Questions
Who may apply for tuition assistance? How do I know if I qualify?
Anyone applying for admission to Browning may apply for tuition assistance. Due to the fact that every family’s financial situation is different, it is not possible to provide accurate guidelines that would assist you in determining your eligibility. If you have specific questions about your family's circumstances, please reach out to Kelly West and we can provide some guidance for you.
How is tuition assistance determined?
Clarity provides a framework through which household need can be measured fairly and equitably. Recommendations from Clarity are used by Browning’s financial aid committee in accordance with its policies to determine the award amount.
The committee uses the report generated by Clarity as a guide to determine a family’s financial aid award. Additional factors such as the sources of income, savings, investments and assets as well as the number of children in tuition-charging schools are also taken into account.
Is there an application fee?
Browning does not charge an application fee to families applying for financial aid. Clarity charges a $60 processing fee. Please please reach out to Kelly West if you feel that this fee is a hardship, as you may qualify for a fee waiver based on your annual income. Please note that we may not be able to grant all fee waiver requests.
What expenses should we expect in addition to tuition?
Additional expenses include non-required trips (i.e. pre-season sports camp, spring training), as well as Encore and after-school activities. However, families receiving tuition assistance will be asked to pay the same portion of these expenses that they pay towards their annual tuition. These fees are determined on an individual basis.
There are also annual dues to the Parents Association, which are $150.
Are merit scholarships available?
No, all awards are based on demonstrated financial need.
If parents are divorced, separated or never married, who is required to submit financial information?
In order for the Financial Aid Committee to review an application for tuition assistance, we must have all pertinent information regarding a family’s true financial situation. Separated and divorced parents must each submit an application for financial aid in addition to all of the necessary supporting documents. The School is not bound by any divorce agreement specifying a parent’s responsibility for educational expenses or the assertion that one parent has disclaimed responsibility for educational expenses.
If either natural parent has remarried, we ask that step-parent to submit a separate application and supporting documentation as well. The same is expected of natural parents’ domestic partners and any non-custodial parents. If this information is not provided, the Financial Aid Committee will not grant an award to the student.
Please contact Kelly West or Janet Lien in The Office of Admission and Enrollment, or John Campbell in the Business Office, if you have a question about your individual family circumstances.
How does a non-earning spouse impact tuition assistance decisions?
It is our expectation that when there are two parents in a family, both parents contribute financially to their children’s education. However, there are circumstances such as caring for a disabled or elderly parent or a preschool child that might exempt a family from this policy. Each application and circumstance is evaluated on an individual basis. Please be sure to include any information regarding special circumstances in your Clarity application so that we have a complete and accurate picture of your family’s situation.
Will my tuition assistance application impact the admission decision?
No, admission decisions are made independently of financial need.
Is tuition assistance automatically renewed each year?
Current families receiving tuition assistance must apply each year, as grants are awarded on an annual basis. In general, families who receive financial aid in one year will continue to receive a similar award in the years thereafter, unless a significant change of circumstances is demonstrated. Sometimes, changes in a family’s circumstances, such as a significant increase in income, may indicate that they are no longer eligible to receive financial aid.
When will we learn of the tuition assistance committee’s decision?
Applicant Families: Information regarding tuition assistance will be communicated at the same time that you are notified of the admission decision.
Current Families: Tuition assistance award letters will be emailed along with re-enrollment contracts throughout the spring. Applications submitted by current families are reviewed by the financial aid committee in the order they are received, so it is recommended that you submit your application and supporting documentation as soon as possible.
Dennis M. Coleman ’72 Panther Mentors Scholarship Fund
In an effort to increase access to a Browning education, in 2020, a group of Browning alumni who identify as men of color initiated an endowed tuition assistance fund to be awarded to Browning students who identify as African-American or Latinx/Hispanic. The fund is named in honor of Dennis M. Coleman ’72, the first Black student to graduate from The Browning School.
Each year, an incoming Lower School student is named a Dennis M. Coleman Panther Mentors Scholar and joins a cohort of previous students who share this distinction.
If you are applying to Browning’s Lower School and are interested in this opportunity, please contact Director of Admission, Kelly West.
If you are interested in supporting the fund, click here.
Fast Facts
428
students K-12
98
Number of colleges and universities admitting the Class of 2023
6-to-1
student-to-faculty ratio
90%
of teachers have graduate degrees
75
zip codes our students call home
22%
of students receive financial aid