Tuition & Financial Aid

A Penn Charter education is possible for your child.Our families choose Penn Charter because they want the best education and opportunities for their children. No matter their means, every family pays some tuition. The school works to ensure that money is not a barrier for talented students.

In the 2024-25 school year, most families who received need-based financial aid pay less than half the tuition.

Tuition for 2025-26

Division	Grade	2025-26
Lower School	Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten Grades 1, 2 and 3 Grades 4 and 5	$29,550 $31,825 $34,750 $37,975
Middle School	Grades 6, 7 and 8	$44,150
Upper School	Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12	$49,100

Division

Grade

2025-26

Lower School

Pre-Kindergarten

Kindergarten

Grades 1, 2 and 3

Grades 4 and 5

$29,550

$31,825

$34,750

$37,975

Middle School

Grades 6, 7 and 8

$44,150

Upper School

Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12

$49,100

How Does the Financial Aid Process Work?

Penn Charter provides financial aid on the basis of demonstrated family financial need. We use an independent third party, Clarity, to determine an applicant family’s ability to afford tuition.

Most families are able to complete the Clarity application in less than 30 minutes. The application is also mobile-friendly and does not need to be completed in a single sitting; you can always save your progress and return later.

Each year, Penn Charter's financial aid resources may not be sufficient to support every family that applies. If you have questions and want to discuss financial aid or individual circumstances, please contact John Zurcher, director of financial aid and associate director of admissions.

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

Are You Ready to Apply for Financial Aid? Follow These Steps:

1. Create a Clarity Account

2. Enter your Household's Information

3. Pay Application Processing Fee of $60

4. Submit any Required Supplemental Documents

Additional Notes

When parents are divorced or separated, we require information from both custodial and non-custodial parents, guardians and stepparents. Each household may need to complete the Clarity application separately. We remain strict confidentiality.
We anticipate that all parents in a household be employed before seeking financial aid. The exception is for parents caring for preschool-aged children, living with a disability, or facing other circumstances preventing employment. Please provide an explanation to the director of financial aid.
Parents who are currently enrolled in school should provide an explanation to the director of financial aid explaining their program, progress toward a degree and expected date of graduation.
Parents who own a business or trust or who receive rental income may be required to submit additional documentation to Clarity.
The Grace Fund is available to assist with non-tuition expenses at Penn Charter.

Financial Aid Policy

Penn Charter offers financial aid to families from a wide range of income levels. All aid is need-based, which means admitted students demonstrating financial need will receive aid based on the school’s annual budget.

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.

Financial Aid Fast Facts

$15.5

million of financial aid distributed in 2024-25

48%

of new PC students in 2024-25 receive need-based financial aid

$12,500

the average tuition amount paid by Penn Charter families who receive financial aid.

45%

of students in Upper School receive need-based financial aid

Affordability

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.

Need Help with the Financial Aid Application Process?

Contact Clarity

Reach Clarity at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752 for assistance in both English and Spanish.
After you begin the application process, in-app support is available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen.

Additional Questions?

Contact Director of Financial Aid and Associate Director of Admissions John Zurcher
jzurcher@penncharter.com
215-844-3460 x119

Financial Aid Step-by-Step Guide Guía de Aplicación Para Las Familias

Should I Apply for Financial Aid?

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

Is It Confidential?

How To Apply for Financial Aid

If your child is applying for admission to Penn Charter:

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.
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.
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

Divorced or Separated Parents

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.

Apply Now!

Need Help with the Financial Aid Application Process?

Contact Clarity

Reach Clarity at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752 for assistance in both English and Spanish.
After you begin the application process, in-app support is available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen.

Financial Aid Application Guide (in English)Guía de Aplicación Para Las Familias (en español)