Tuition & Financial Aid

Any student who applies to Penn Charter may apply for financial assistance, reflecting our founding Quaker principles of equality and diversity. Penn Charter imposes no income ceiling or minimum for families applying for financial aid.

Grants to new students are usually awarded to students who enter Penn Charter in pre-k, kindergarten, and grades fifth through ninth, and then, as funds remain, to new students entering in all other grades. Nearly all financial aid is distributed in the first round.

Every family must complete the financial aid process and demonstrate need to receive a grant. Financial aid decisions are made separately from and subsequent to admissions decisions. The complete financial aid process should be finished by December 1 to be considered in the first round of financial aid decisions.

If you feel the tuition at Penn Charter is more than you can afford, we strongly encourage you to apply for financial aid. We strive to meet 100% of demonstrated family need. Financial aid is in the form of grants – no loans, nothing to pay back.

We know that some families are reluctant to apply for a variety of reasons. John Zurcher, the director of financial aid, is available to talk through your individual circumstances.  

Contact Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions John Zurcher

• Email: jzurcher@penncharter.com
• Call: 215-844-3460 x119
   

Yes, it is. Applying for financial aid has no effect on an application for admission to Penn Charter.

Information about a family’s finances is shared only with the few members of the financial aid committee.

If your child is applying for admission to Penn Charter:

1. Complete the Clarity application no later than November 30, 2024. Penn Charter and Clarity recommend completing the form as soon as possible. You will need 2023 financial information on hand.

2. Follow the prompts using this downloadable step-by-step guide to complete the financial aid application. You are able to save and return to the application if you need to.

3. The final step will be to upload November 2024 pay stubs for all parents/caregivers that show cumulative income from January through November to your Clarity account.
    

If you have questions, please email Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions John Zurcher. If you have completed a different financial aid application for another school already this year, such as SSS or FAST, and the Clarity fee is not feasible, please reach out as well. 

The Financial Aid Committee meets regularly to act on completed applications. Therefore, it is to your advantage to have completed all the above steps by the December 1 deadline to maximize the chances of being awarded financial aid.  If you are applying after December 1, please contact the director of financial aid to inquire about the availability of financial aid. 

Financial Aid for Current Families

As all grants are made annually, all families must reapply for financial aid each year to establish their level of financial need. For PC families not currently receiving financial aid but wishing to apply, please follow the instructions in the Hub and contact Director of Financial Aid John Zurcher as soon as possible. 

Find Instructions in the Hub

For parents who share custody and are separated, divorced, or have never been married, the full process, including tax documentation, is required in nearly all situations.

Single parents, who have no contact with and receive no financial support from the applicant’s other biological parent, will verify this status in conversation with the director of financial aid. If there are non-custodial parents or step-parents, their income, net worth, and ability to contribute to tuition will be considered, along with their existing commitments if they have their own children. 

Begin the process and apply now