Ojai Valley School

Tuition And Financial Aid

Education is a major investment in your student’s future. Ojai Valley School strives to assist families with this commitment by providing need-based financial aid and scholarships. We hope to aid as many deserving families as possible, and we expect that families will make their children’s education a financial priority.

Tuition and Fees

Ojai Valley School offers an exceptional educational experience. In structuring our fees we strive to provide families with many services within the tuition and fees, including after-school care for children, hot lunches for day and boarding students, textbooks, outdoor education trips, and more.

Financial Aid

Ojai Valley School is committed to supporting its student community by providing financial assistance to families that cannot afford full tuition. Financial aid is awarded after careful consideration by the Financial Aid Committee. Awards are granted annually and requests must be renewed each year. Financial aid is limited with the majority reserved for returning students.

Financial aid grants vary based on grade and corresponding tuition levels, as well as a family’s demonstrated need and the availability of funds. Ojai Valley School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its operations or activities, include the selection of students and the evaluation of financial assistance for families. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community.

Financial Aid Calendar

The Admissions Office will begin to process Financial Aid requests on December 15. The school maintains a limited budget and funding will not be available after a certain point in the admission season. Consider the following dates in your planning:

• December 15: Admissions Office begins to process financial aid requests. Parents of returning and prospective new students should submit the Financial Aid Questionnaire, a statement explaining the reason for the request, and a copy of their most recently available federal tax return to be considered by the Financial Aid Committee.
• February 15: Financial aid deadline to be considered in the first round of decisions.
• March 15: Admission and Financial Aid Decisions are sent to families on or before this date. Financial aid requests will be considered by the Committee on a rolling basis as funds remain available.
• April 10: Enrollment contracts with aid offers are due to the Admission Office.

Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to financial aid, Ojai Valley School offers a limited number of merit and need-based scholarships. These grants are supported by endowments or gifts to the OVS Annual Fund. They are awarded at the discretion of the Financial Aid Committee. The include:

William S. Gill Jr. Scholarship

Alumnus William S. Gill Jr. (L52) passed away in November 1994 and through his estate designated funds to support local underprivileged students who without financial support could not afford the benefits of a boarding school education. These endowed scholarship funds are restricted to one or more boarding students, who must reside in Santa Barbara or Ventura counties.

Michael D. Hermes Scholarships

These scholarships were established in recognition of alumnus Michael D. Hermes (L53), who served for 34 years as president and chief executive officer of Ojai Valley School. The scholarships, which are generously supported by the OVS Annual Fund, are awarded to well-rounded day or resident students who exemplify Mr. Hermes’ commitment to character, community, scholarship, athleticism, and leadership.

Salimbaceous Grants

The Salimbaceous Grants continue a legacy of generous support started two decades ago by the Cass family to help female students pursue their passions and talents. The Cass sisters believed that too often money stood in the way of girls achieving their potential, so each year they funded grants intended to help girls make their dreams a reality. Since 1996, those grants have allowed numerous middle and high school girls pursue their passions in art, music, literature, technology, and science. Today, endowed funds from the Cass family support annual grants totaling $21,000 for qualified female students who possesses the “dreams, schemes and promise” of achieving their goals.

Educational Loans

In addition to financial aid and scholarships, Ojai Valley School partners with Your Tuition Solution, which can provide affordable educational loans and extended payment plans for families with children attending OVS.Please contact the Admission Office for more information.

Registration Fee: $500

The one-time Registration Fee, for new students only, will be refunded upon written request when the student graduates or leaves the School, provided all outstanding bills have been paid in full. Fees not refunded will be deposited to the school’s endowment fund.

Tuition: Tuition for boarding students covers all meals, housing, and supervision. Tuition for day students includes a hot lunch and after-school care until 5:00 p.m. for Primary and Elementary Division students.

Boarding Tuition

• (5-Day Boarding) Grades 3-12: 60,000
• (7-Day Boarding) Grades 3-12: 67,800

Activity Fees

The Activity Fee covers the cost of the following items: required textbooks and workbooks in grades Pre-K to 8, transportation for field trips and sports events, weekend recreational activities, outdoor education trips, a Chromebook for students in grades 6 to 8; and health care provided by the OVS Health Center. The Student’s account will be charged for sundry expenses incurred by the Student, including, but not limited to: student store purchases, transportation to medical, dental, or personal appointments, horse-related expenses, elective class materials, private music lessons, and optional weekend trips.

• Day – Pre-Pre-K through K: $1,400
• Day – Grades 1 through 12: 2,150
• 5-Day Boarding – Grades 3-12: 2,150
• 7-Day Boarding – Grades 3-12: 2,900

Additional Fees

• Learning Center: Core Support and Language Assistance – Grades 1-8: 3,500
• Learning Center: Intensive Support and Language Assistance – Grades 1-8: 5,750
• Learning Center: Core Support and Language Assistance – Grades 9-12: 5,750
• English as a Second Language (ESL): 7,000
• Washington D.C.Trip (8th grade only): 2,800
• International Student Enrollment Fees: 3,000

Day Bus Service

This service provides a bus run to/from the Ventura/Oxnard areas:

• Per Student 3,850
• Each additional student in family 1,925

Upon acceptance to Ojai Valley School, the student’s parent or guardian must pay the one-time registration fee of $500 in addition to the nonrefundable tuition deposit to reserve a place. The tuition deposit is $3,300 for a day student and $6,800 for a resident student. The deposit will be credited towards tuition. The one-time registration fee is refundable upon request when the student either leaves the school or graduates.