Expert: Michael Wall Date: 6/18/2008 Subject: reciprocal tuition discounts
Question Hi Michael,
I've heard that students of a boarding school may receive discounts on their tuition if their parents work at another boarding school. Is this true and, if so, how much, on average, is the discount? Does it apply to just parents who are teachers or administrative staff as well?
Thanks in advance for your expert opinion!
Answer Boni,
I haven't heard of this cross-school reciprocal reduction in tuition for faculty and staff of private schools. There are public systems that allow for tuition reduction within the system (my family can take free classes, up to a certain number of credits, at most public two-year higher education institutions in Minnesota, for example.)
What I have seen a lot of it the chance for children of employees at the particular school to get a tuition reduction at that institution, assuming the child is admitted. (I can recall a good friend who was a department head at out school. He is also an alumnus, and his son did not get in. While it was very tough for them, it reinforced the integrity of the school for me!) These discounts can be substantial, and you find many instances of people getting jobs before or soon after their child is admitted to the school. (Where I worked, parents paid 10% of the day-student rate. Consider that today that would reduce tuition from $29,000 a year to just under three thousand dollars a year!)
Ultimately, these reciprocal agreements are between two schools, or within a system of schools. Your safest bet is to contact the CFO at the schools you are considering, as well as the one that employs the parent (or one the parent is considering as a place of work.)
