By Peter Park ’07, director of financial aid and associate director of admission

My parents encouraged me to think of education as a lifelong investment. They knew that, for me and my brother, education was going to be the vehicle for transformational growth. When I started looking at high schools, I had options — great local public schools and parochial schools — but as we researched, it became clear that I needed a school like Peddie.

A Peddie education is a substantial investment in your child’s future. As an alumnus who was able to consider an affordable Peddie experience through financial assistance, I can tell you that a family's demonstrated need should never discourage a student from applying to The Peddie School.

Nearly 30 years ago, Walter Annenberg, Class of 1927, bestowed a historic $100 million dollar endowment on Peddie to expand our financial assistance program. Since then, Peddie has been fortunate to provide an exceptional educational experience to extraordinary students from all across the globe and every walk of life. I truly believe in the legacy of that gift, both because I have been personally impacted by that gift and because I have watched that gift transform the lives of hundreds of Peddie students who came after me.

Peddie is committed to meeting 100% of a family’s demonstrated need. We award need-based grants to families at every economic level, in amounts ranging from $5,000 to the full cost of tuition. Financial assistance is not a loan, and you will never have to pay it back.

How do we determine who qualifies for financial assistance?

We assess your family’s contribution based on factors like household income, expenses, assets and family size. We then compare those factors against the costs of attending Peddie. When we provide financial assistance, we’re not just thinking about the cost of tuition. We’re thinking about the cost of books, athletic uniforms, Broadway trips, academic assistance and every other opportunity that we provide to students throughout their time at Peddie.

Will applying for financial assistance affect Peddie’s admission decision?

Our goal for much of the admission selection process is to determine whether a student is a good fit for Peddie. We only take financial assistance into account in the final phase of admission, while weighing a family’s demonstrated financial need against available funds.

If you believe that you will need assistance to be able to afford Peddie, then you should submit an application for financial assistance.

Does Peddie offer scholarships?

In addition to our need-based grants, Peddie awards a select number of merit scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds and locations across the United States and around the world. Every student who meets the January 15 application deadline is considered for these scholarships, regardless of financial need. We recognize the weight and the talent of our entire applicant pool rather than creating an additional step or obstacle that might prevent a capable, eligible student from being awarded a prestigious scholarship.

Merit scholars are selected for their ability to add to the Peddie community and make the most of their Peddie experience. We’re looking for academic achievement, a broad range of passions and interests and a commitment to contributing to their community. They’re the first to help others and the last to leave. In short, our merit scholars are active learners and leaders.

What should I do next?

At Peddie, our admission process is grounded in our long-standing commitment to access. As you and your family consider an independent boarding school, we commend you for your commitment to your education and look forward to assisting you in the application process. A Peddie education is an investment in a student’s future — and we are your partners in that investment every step of the way.

This is only a brief overview of our financial assistance program. You can learn more on our Tuition and Financial Aid page. If you need help, or have specific questions about financial assistance, contact our team at fa@peddie.org. We’re always happy to help.