Andover is need-blind: the school says applying for financial aid does not affect the admission decision. For 2026-27, tuition is $79,800 for boarding students and $63,840 for day students. The school says it meets 100 percent of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need with grants, not loans, and the aid application is due February 1, the same day as the admission application.
Tuition
The Tuition and Financial Aid page lists 2026-27 tuition:
- Boarding: $79,800
- Day: $63,840
The pages we reviewed do not describe what tuition includes or what other expenses families should expect. Ask the school's financial aid office, or check its billing information page, before you plan a budget.
What need-blind means
The school says it is "one of the few independent schools in the country to admit students regardless of financial need." Its Financial Aid Requirements page adds that admission officers cannot see financial information and that there is "no disadvantage" to applying for aid.
What the school says about aid
- Need met in full. Andover says it meets 100 percent of each admitted student's demonstrated financial need.
- Grants, not loans. Aid awards are scholarship grants, and the school has discontinued student loans.
- How many students receive aid. The school's pages state that 47 percent of students receive financial aid and that 12 percent are on full scholarship.
- Average grant. The school lists an average annual grant of $45,000 for returning students.
- No income ceiling for full scholarships. The page states that none is set.
- Renewal. The school's general FAQ says aid grants are renewed annually provided there is continued demonstrated financial need.
Andover does not publish an income threshold at which tuition becomes free on the pages we reviewed. Do not assume you qualify or do not qualify from a number on a third-party website. The school says it uses its own standards to assess ability to pay, does not count a home's value up to $650,000 as an asset, gives renters a rental allowance, and reviews special circumstances.
How to apply
- Indicate interest. The school asks families to mark interest in aid on the Candidate Profile on Gateway to Prep Schools, so it can send reminders.
- Use Clarity Tuition. All families, domestic and international, use Clarity Tuition. The school says it "typically takes less than 30 minutes."
- Pay the submission fee. It is $65.
- Submit documents. Financial information from all living parents and supporting tax documents are required. Families outside the United States should not submit US tax forms in Clarity.
- Divorced or separated parents. Each parent completes a separate application, and the school says "No information will be shared between parties."
- Single-parent status. The school asks for proof, such as a birth certificate or a letter from an attorney, clergy person, or school counselor.
- Deadline. February 1, 2027 for Fall 2027 entry.
- Decisions. The school communicates aid decisions on March 10. Confirm the year in your portal.
International families
The Apply page says international students are welcome to apply for financial aid, and the Financial Aid Requirements page says all families, domestic and international, use Clarity Tuition. The school says families outside the United States should not submit US tax forms in Clarity. It also says support is available in the app and by email, and by phone in English and Spanish, and that the application is fully translated into Spanish.
Questions to ask the financial aid office
The school's pages answer a lot, but a few practical points are not covered on the pages we reviewed. Ask these in writing, and give your child's full name and birthday in the message, as the school requests:
- What does tuition include, and what other expenses should we plan for?
- How are siblings, other dependents, and unusual circumstances reviewed?
- What happens if our family's circumstances change after we apply?
- Does a changed financial situation in a later year change the grant?
Planning checklist
- Gather tax documents for all living parents before the application opens in your account.
- Decide who will be the main contact, and use one email address on every form.
- Confirm that the student's name and birthdate match on the admission and aid applications.
- Put February 1, 2027 on the calendar for both applications, and aim to finish earlier.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to apply for aid. Families must apply in the initial application year, at the same time as the admission application.
- Submitting only one parent's information. The school requires information from all living parents.
- Name mismatches. The school asks families to use the same name and a correct birthdate on the admission and aid applications.
- Assuming aid lowers admission chances. The school states it does not.
- Skipping the testing fee waiver. Aid applicants can request one through the application portal.
The admissions timeline shows how the aid deadline fits with testing and recommendations.
Frequently asked questions
Is Andover need-blind?
Yes. Andover says it admits students regardless of financial need, and that applying for aid does not affect the admission decision.
How much is Andover tuition for 2026-27?
The school lists boarding tuition at $79,800 and day tuition at $63,840 for 2026-27.
Does Andover give financial aid to international students?
Yes. The Apply page says international students are welcome to apply for financial aid, and the school says all families, domestic and international, use Clarity Tuition.
When are Andover aid decisions released?
The school communicates financial aid decisions on March 10. The aid application itself is due February 1.
Can my family get a full scholarship?
The school says 12 percent of its students are on full scholarship and that no income ceiling is set for full scholarships. It publishes no income threshold, so contact the financial aid office.
Getting help
If you want structured support with preparation, see the programs page.
Sources
- Tuition and Financial Aid, Andover
- Financial Aid Requirements, Andover
- How to Apply, Andover admission
- Andover FAQs
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