Tuition Assistance
University School of Milwaukee understands and appreciates the financial commitment that families take on in deciding to send their children to USM. The school is committed to maintaining a diverse student body and making our outstanding educational experience affordable to all families regardless of their resources.
In keeping with our mission and guiding principles, USM supports a tuition assistance program in order to provide assistance to families whose financial resources cannot fully cover the cost of an independent school education. In addition we offer scholarship opportunities for students in 7th through 11th grades.
Please note that financial aid is not available for Preschool (PK and JK) students.
Program Philosophy
USM provides tuition assistance to families with demonstrated need, or the difference between the cost of tuition and the financial contribution a family is able to afford. A family’s calculated contribution is determined by information presented on their financial aid application, tax returns, and other supporting documents. USM’s financial aid program cannot be used to solve a family’s financial difficulties. Exceptionally high living expenses, credit card debt, or other consumer debt may not be considered as allowable expenses when calculating a family’s demonstrated need.
For more information, please contact Mike Sweet, associate director of enrollment management, at 414.540.3323 or msweet@usm.org.
How Need is Determined
The tuition assistance committee allocates funds after careful consideration of a family’s financial need and to the extent that financial aid funds are available. To be considered for financial aid, families are required to file an application through FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition), an independent agency that provides a need-based financial analysis service. This ensures that our process for establishing financial need adheres to nationally established standards of best practice.
All financial information and grants are kept strictly confidential. Families are required to reapply each year for tuition assistance. Unless there is a significant change in the financial capability of the family, the committee strives to maintain a consistent level of support. USM expects recipients of aid, like all students, to work hard, be good citizens, and contribute to the life of the school.
Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST)
USM utilizes the services of Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) as our tuition assistance management system. Applicants must complete the online FAST application in order to be considered for a tuition assistance grant.
Families seeking need-based grants and scholarships must file a financial analysis application. In order to ensure our process for establishing financial need adheres to national standards of best practice, University School of Milwaukee uses the Financial Aid for School Tuition (FAST) Program powered by Independent School Management (ISM).
We utilize the FAST Program because it is designed to be highly responsive to our families. Compared to other systems, It is more flexible in terms of the information it will accommodate, thus allowing families to represent their own particular circumstances more accurately. To make the online application process as easy as possible, FAST provides 24/7/365 help desk support.
All information from FAST is kept confidential, as is all information pertaining to a family's tuition assistance request.
For more information, please contact Mike Sweet, associate director of enrollment management, at 414.540.3323 or msweet@usm.org.
Families applying for tuition assistance for the 2023-24 school year may apply after Monday, Oct. 3, 2022.