Admission

For an application please fill out our e-mail form or contact:

Jennifer Callahan Director of Lower School Admission Ursuline Academy 1106 Pennsylvania Avenue Wilmington, DE 19806 (302)658-7158 E-mail: jcallahan@ursuline.org

Jamie Jones Director of Middle School and Upper School Admission Ursuline Academy 1106 Pennsylvania Avenue Wilmington, DE 19806 (302) 658-7158 Email: jamiejones@ursuline.org

Financial Aid

Investing in Your Child's Future

Ursuline Academy is committed to offering our excellent educational opportunities to all qualified students, regardless of financial circumstances. While the cost for educating a child ultimately resides with the family, Ursuline encourages families to apply for financial aid. Ursuline Academy understands that financing an independent school education is not always easy, yet the cost is not as large a barrier as many assume. Our financial aid program is designed to bridge the gap between what a family can afford and what it costs to attend Ursuline.
Aid is offered on the basis of demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds to any student attending a full day program at Ursuline. Ursuline Academy supports a financial aid budget that represents 10% of the school’s annual operating budget. Recent financial aid awards total approximately $700,000 and students that receive aid represent 19% of the student body.
In awarding financial aid, Ursuline Academy’s Financial Aid Committee considers applications from current families first. Since financial circumstances can change from year to year, parents of students already receiving financial aid must reapply for each school year. To be considered for aid, a current student must be in good academic and behavioral standing, and the family must be in good financial standing with the Academy. Also, the student and family must contribute positively to the school community.
For families and students applying for admission to Ursuline, applying for financial aid has no bearing upon the admission committee’s decisions and their assessment of an applicant’s potential as an Ursuline Academy student. Families of prospective students are encouraged to apply for financial aid.
To qualify for financial aid, parents must submit a Parents’ Financial Statement (PFS) with the appropriate fee to School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) in Princeton, New Jersey no later than January 11, 2008. Families who meet this priority deadline will be considered first in being awarded aid for the 2008-09 school year. This system considers gross taxable and non-taxable income, assets, liabilities, family size and the number of students in tuition-charging schools or colleges. After an allowance for basic necessities and required taxes, the remaining funds are considered available for education on a sliding scale. The more a family earns, the greater the expected family contribution. The forms to send to SSS are available by request from the Academy beginning in November, 2007. To complete the forms by this deadline, it is acceptable to use estimated information for 2007 income and expenses.
Ursuline follows recommended practices stated in the SSS handbook for allowing and disallowing expenses on the PFS forms. For example, Ursuline allows deductions for repairs on a primary residence, but not a second home or rental property; Ursuline allows for siblings’ tuition costs from preschool through undergraduate degree programs, but not graduate programs. All allowances are listed in the SSS guide for filing; we recommend that you read these directions carefully so that your PFS is not rejected either by SSS or Ursuline. Also, be sure to explain all circled entries completely; if no explanation is provided, these entries are disallowed, which may result in disqualification of the application.

If either parent is a partial or full owner of a business or farm, he or she must complete the enclosed Business/Farm Statement before completing the PFS. These forms should be returned directly to Ursuline’s Financial Aid Committee. Do not send the Business/Farm Statement to SSS in Princeton, New Jersey.
In cases of divorce or separation, Ursuline requires that both natural parents or legal guardians complete a PFS. While Ursuline is aware that difficulties may arise in these cases and makes a special effort to consider all possible situations, the Financial Aid Committee will consider both natural parents’ or legal guardians’ abilities to contribute to tuition expenses. In the case of no support from, or contact with, a noncustodial parent, the Committee requires verification of the situation by a counselor, legal advisor, social worker, or member of the clergy. If either natural parent remarries, Ursuline Academy takes into account the contributions the stepparent makes to the household. At the same time, however, Ursuline also bears in mind the financial obligations the stepparent has to his or her natural children and other family members. In the school’s view, the stepparent’s resources and expenses become part of the family’s total financial picture.
SSS automatically includes a portion of each student’s assets as part of the family’s contribution to education expenses, regardless of the type of assets. In certain cases, such as court-mandated trust funds, Ursuline Academy will deduct the student contribution before determining the family’s financial need. In these cases, appropriate documentation of the irrevocable nature of the trust fund must be provided.
SSS determines the methods used to evaluate the PFS information and forwards to Ursuline a completed Report of Family Contribution (RFC). When Ursuline has received all of the appropriate materials (RFC and all business information), the Financial Aid Committee begins the evaluation process. During this process, the Committee may change the SSS calculations, depending on expenses that have been claimed and explanations of unusual circumstances. The Financial Aid Committee reviews all completed applications and notifies each qualified family of a preliminary award by mid-February. Ursuline Academy has limited funds for financial aid, so a family’s award may not meet the total amount of need as stated on the RFC.
Because preliminary awards are made based on estimated information, the Financial Aid Committee verifies actual income and expenses by reviewing 2007 Federal 1040 tax forms (including all attached schedules), all 2007 W-2 forms, and business statements, if necessary. Therefore, copies of all income tax information must be delivered to Ursuline no later than April 25, 2008. The Financial Aid Committee will use these forms to adjust both the estimated information provided on the PFS forms and the preliminary award, if necessary. The Committee will notify families of any adjustments by May 23, 2008.
Ursuline strongly recommends that all families request a copy of the Report of Family Contribution (RFC) for their information. This report is a copy of the information SSS provides to Ursuline’s Financial Aid Committee for its award process. All applications, tax forms, W-2 forms, and related information are held in strictest confidence. Only the Admission Office, Financial Aid Committee, and President of Ursuline Academy have access to this information.
Since Ursuline believes the value of our educational program exceeds the considerable financial commitment it entails, we will make every effort to help you make it possible for your child. If you have any questions about financial aid, please contact Ursuline Academy, (302) 658-7158.