Affording Notre Dame

Affording a Notre Dame Education

Notre Dame's mission statement clebrates our shool's rich "mosaic" of diversity as a hallmark of our identity. To that end, ensuring that a Notre Dame education is accessible to young women from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds is a longstanding commitment of our School.

Notre Dame School of Manhattan is a diverse community of learners where each student is known, valued, and challenged to achieve academic excellence and personal growth. In keeping with our mission to educate compassionate, capable leaders, we believe that every student and family—regardless of financial background—should have the opportunity to access the Chez Nous experience. In our effort to afford accessibility to all families, we offer approximately $2 million in tuition assistance to 60% of our current families.

Tuition & Fees for 2026–2027

Tuition: $22,400
Current Ninth Grade Fees: $1,600

*Fees are paid out during registration as well as throughout the school year.

Tuition Policies:

Tuition is paid from June 2026 through April 2027.
Tuition payment plans are available as annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly over the course of eleven months.
No reduction or refund is made for withdrawal or dismissal before the end of the school year.
No refunds are given by Notre Dame School for any reason.
For the full tuition policy, please see the 2026-2027 Notre Dame School Handbook.

Academic Scholarships

General Merit Awards

Notre Dame awards a number of academic scholarships based on entrance exam performance and prior school academic records. Scholarship consideration is given to students who list Notre Dame as their first or second choice. There is no separate exam for those who seek scholarships. Notification of a scholarship award is included in a student’s acceptance letter. Merit awards are only offered to incoming ninth grade students, and the awards then renew each year of high school provided that the student maintain the minimum GPA requirements.

Sr. Virginia Leadership Scholarship

A cherished alumna from the Class of 1970 and our devoted President from 2010 - 2025, Sr. Virginia O'Brien, SU led with tireless devotion, ambition, vision, and compassion for all in her care. We are blessed to announce that a select group of donors have established the Sr. Virginia O'Brien, SU Leadership Scholarship in her honor for all that she has accomplished, Chez Nous.

The recipient of this award should exemplify academic excellence as well as a commitment to leadership and service. Special consideration will be given to families who demonstrate significant financial need. Specific criteria will be detailed in your portal after submitting your admissions application.

Financial Aid

Need-Based Financial Aid

Notre Dame works with families to help make a Notre Dame education affordable. Through the generosity of benefactors, alumnae, and friends, we are committed to making a Notre Dame education a reality for families who demonstrate financial need.

Notre Dame partners with FACTS Grant and Aid Assessment to process all financial aid applications. Applications are accepted online only.

Apply for need-based aid at: FACTS Financial Aid Assessment

Financial Aid Application Deadlines

We encourage all families, new and returning, who plan to apply for financial aid to do so within the specified application windows:

Application Period	Dates	Details
Prospective Students	October 26, 2026 – November 30, 2026	FACTS financial aid application portal open for prospective students (notification approximately one week after acceptance letters are sent in January).
Returning Students	February 15, 2027 – March 15, 2027	FACTS financial aid application portal open for returning students (notification approximately in April 2027).

Policies and Procedures

Financial Aid Overview & Policies

Our financial aid process adheres to the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Principles of Good Practice for Financial Aid Administration, as well as Notre Dame’s own mission and values.

Need-Based Awards: Financial aid is available for students in Grades 9 through 12 and is awarded based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds.
Need-Blind Admissions: Applying for financial assistance does not prejudice admissions decisions. Financial aid decisions are made independently after the admissions committee determines a student’s eligibility for enrollment.
Confidentiality & Honesty: Decisions are calculated using tax forms and applications submitted through the FACTS platform. Notre Dame expects families to provide complete, accurate financial information and to keep all award decisions confidential.

Family Responsibility & Application Guidelines

Parent/Guardian Contributions: Notre Dame expects all legal parents and guardians to contribute to a student's education. To be evaluated for aid, all custodial and non-custodial parents/guardians must complete the application and submit required tax documents. If one parent/guardian holds sole legal financial responsibility, supporting documentation must be provided.
Calculations & Adjustments: Factors such as cost of living, home equity, business assets, and retirement contributions are considered when evaluating ability to pay. Business owners must furnish full business tax returns. In alignment with FACTS guidelines, Notre Dame will impute an income for any non-working, employable parent/guardian whose children are of school age.
New Families: Prospective families who anticipate needing financial assistance at any point during their daughter's enrollment are strongly encouraged to apply upon entry. Families enrolling without applying for financial aid are expected to pay full tuition for their four years of attendance, except in cases of documented, unforeseen financial hardship.

Returning Families & Renewal Guidelines

Returning families receiving financial aid can reasonably expect continued support throughout their daughter's time at Notre Dame if their financial circumstances remain consistent.

Reapplication Schedule: Current families receiving financial aid only need to reapply for aid once during their daughter's enrollment, which takes place during February and March of her 10th-grade year.
Application Deadline: When required to reapply, returning families have until March 15th to submit their financial aid application for the upcoming academic year. Awards will be adjusted based on the updated financial aid application.
Account Standing: Financial aid awards will only be processed and released once a student’s tuition account is current and in good standing with Notre Dame’s Business Office.
Temporary Hardship Aid: If your family is navigating a sudden/temporary change in finances (i.e. death in the family, job loss, etc.), you may qualify for a temporary hardship award. These awards are offered on an annual basis.
- To apply for temporary hardship assistance, please email our Finance Office directly at jenksa@cheznous.org.
Late Applications & Aid Adjustments: Late applications, new financial aid applications from current families, or requests for an increase in aid from returning families will only be reviewed if remaining funding allows.
- If you are applying for aid for the first time or requesting an increase in aid, you must email Notre Dame Admissions directly to express this—contact Admissions at aleandrej@cheznous.org.

Third Party Aid Opportunities

Inner-City Scholarship Fund Programs

The Inner-City Scholarship Fund offers a variety of tuition assistance programs, including the "Be A Student’s Friend" and "High School Award" programs administered by the Archdiocese of New York. These programs assist students from archdiocesan elementary schools, are accepted by Notre Dame, and normally continue through all four years of high school. Scholarship awards are need-based and must be renewed each year. For further information, please visit

Inner-City Scholarship Fund

Columbus Citizens Foundation

This four-year scholarship is administered through the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which is committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. Scholarships are available to entering high school freshmen who meet the following criteria: Italian ancestry, financial need, academic excellence, and service to school and community. The application deadline is in mid-February. For more information, visit

Columbus Citizens Foundation