How to Apply for Financial Aid

Thacher uses the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information shared in the application, including 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 $65 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. For domestic families, Clarity automatically determines application fee waiver eligibility based on income and assets. If your family qualifies for a Clarity fee waiver, you will be able to submit the application without being prompted for payment.

In addition to the information gathered on the Clarity application, Thacher also requires your 2025 and 2026 federal income tax returns. As part of the Clarity process, you will give permission for your previous year tax documents to be collected automatically from the IRS. You will need to manually upload your 2026 returns. International applicants who do not file US taxes will be prompted to upload the appropriate documentation directly to Clarity. 

The deadline for completing the financial aid application as a new applicant to the School, including relevant supplemental documents, is February 15, 2027. For returning families the deadline is April 1, 2027. Currently enrolled families who do not receive financial aid from the school but wish to apply for the first time should reach out to Kim Bastian, the Director of Financial Aid. 

This link provides helpful information on the Clarity application process: https://clarityschools.com/library/family-application-guide/

 

If you need additional support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.