Tuition and Financial Aid - Montclair Kimberley Academy

Thank you so much for your interest in MKA! Please email us at admissions@mka.org. We look forward to learning more about your family!

Affording MKA

Montclair Kimberley Academy values a richly diverse school community. To help us achieve this, we award tuition assistance grants to students in grades 4–12 whose families have established financial need. Please note that financial aid is not currently available for Pre-K–grade 3.

Requests for financial aid are confidential and are not considered by the Admissions Committee. The Financial Aid Committee considers a request for aid after the student has been recommended for admission. Current and prospective families with children entering grade 4 or above may apply. All financial assistance at MKA is need-based. MKA does not provide any merit scholarships.

The school expects that families who enroll without receiving financial aid will continue to support their child's education at MKA without assistance. However, when unforeseen circumstances arise to significantly change a currently enrolled family's financial situation, an application for financial aid can be made. Students must be enrolled for a minimum of two years in order to be eligible to apply for financial aid.

How To Apply for Financial Aid

MKA’s Financial Aid program is designed to make an MKA education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. MKA is proud to use 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 $55 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.

The deadline for completing the financial aid application is February 14, 2024.

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available as well as email support at support@claritytuition.com in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

MKA's Community Scholarship

MKA's Community Scholarship

About MKA’s Community Scholars Program

The Community Scholars Program was founded in 1969 by Montclair Academy and has been the longest standing commitment in our financial aid program. It is unique because the award strongly considers both financial need and academic merit. The program can support seven scholars per year and is funded by endowment, annual giving, and the operating budget. The number of open scholarships in a given year is determined by the number of Community Scholars who graduated from MKA the previous year.

MKA’s Community Scholars have been some of the most accomplished and remarkable people to graduate from our school.

What is included in the Community Scholars Program?

MKA’s Community Scholars Program covers the full tuition and all additional costs including, but not limited to, books, lunch, transportation, and athletic equipment.

What are the qualifications for a Community Scholar?

In selecting Community Scholars, the school’s priority is to offer need based awards to students who represent a racial or ethnic minority and embrace the values upheld by the MKA community. Families must demonstrate a full financial need in order to be considered.

How to apply:

Complete the MKA application by December 15, 2023
Download and complete the MKA Community Scholar Application and submit relevant supplemental materials by January 31, 2024
Complete the financial aid application by February 14, 2024

All finalists will be contacted to schedule a separate Community Scholar Interview.

We welcome students entering grades 6-11 to apply for the Community Scholarship.

2023 - 2024 School Year

GRADES	AMOUNT
Pre-K	$27,490
K	$34,140
1-3	$37,940
4-5	$40,830
6-8	$45,400
9-12	$48,550

Tuition includes all fees, unlimited access to technology — including MacBook Air 13" laptops for every student in grades 4-12 — and overnight and day trips and experiences. Books, optional lunch, and bus service are not included.

Books and Supplies

Costs vary by campus. At the Primary School, annual expenses are typically $25–$175. Middle School books and supplies, such as PE uniforms, customarily cost $200–$300. Upper School students purchase their texts each year; book bills are usually $600–$800.

Lunch

MKA offers an optional full lunch program for students in all grades. School lunches can be purchased for the year or daily à la carte. All Primary School students must pay a snack fee that covers a daily snack.

Bus Service

MKA provides centralized bus service. Fees are $5,995 for one-way and $8,250 for round trip transportation. MKA also provides two shuttle buses from Short Hills, Maplewood & Livingston for $1,000. Please contact the Admissions Office with any questions.