What Families Really Pay for Jewish Day School —
And Why It Might Surprise You
It’s easy to be intimidated by the price tag of a non-Orthodox Jewish day school in the Boston area. Many school websites list tuition in the range of $30,000 to $50,000 per year—numbers that understandably leave parents wondering, Who can actually afford this?
But the reality is far more accessible than it appears.
While many families assume Jewish day school is only for the wealthy, Boston’s non-Orthodox day schools are among the most generous in the independent school world when it comes to financial aid. Depending on the school, between 60% and 90% of enrolled families receive some form of tuition assistance, ranging from those earning under $100,000 to families with incomes as high as $600,000.
Jewish day schools offer financial aid at levels far beyond what’s typical in the private school world. Nationally, only about 25 percent of students at private schools receive financial aid, according to NAIS, which is less than half the rate seen at many day schools. When it comes to dollars, financial aid accounts for about 12 percent of a typical private school's expenses. At Jewish day schools, that number averages around 35 percent, nearly three times the national norm, and can reach as high as 60 percent at some schools.
For those receiving assistance, tuition is often 40% to 60% lower than the listed price. For example, at a school with a published tuition of $32,000 per year, that means many families are paying $16,000 or less.
“Our mission of accepting any Jewish family who wants their child to receive a Jewish day school education means we try to accommodate every family who comes through our doors.”
The result is a student population that is more economically diverse than many assume. While day schools may not mirror the full income spectrum of some public school districts, they are significantly more socioeconomically diverse than most peer private schools.
Still, it can be difficult for prospective families to figure out what their own tuition obligation might be. Financial aid processes vary by school, and the formulas often account for more than just household income—factors like family size, number of children, cost of living, medical or elder care expenses, and other expenses are often included.
While it can be difficult for prospective families to figure out what their own tuition obligation might be, affordability is always a conversation worth having and many are often surprised by the generosity of Jewish Day Schools and their donors. Financial aid processes vary by school, and the formulas often account for more than just household income. For those curious often schools can discern a rough range of financial aid outcomes in a short 15 minute conversation.
In the end, Boston's Jewish day schools believe that tuition should never be the reason a family rules out a Jewish education. While the sticker price may look high, the system behind it, supported by generous philanthropy, is designed to create access, not exclusivity. If you're curious about day school but assumed it was financially out of reach, take a second look. What you discover might just change your mind.
