Looking for program costs?
This page of our website explains how tiered tuition works and why we use a tiered tuition model. It DOES NOT include the tuition costs for any particular Sustainable Summer program. You will find the actual tuition of a particular program on the web page for that specific program.
How Tiered Tuition Works!
Our programs have three different tuition tiers:
- our “standard” rate is the full program cost
- our “tuition assistance” rate is a “honors system” 17% discounted tuition
- and our “scholarship” rate is an up to 100% of tuition in financial assistance.
When applying to a program, students do not need to indicate their tuition tier
Parents will select the tuition tier when enrolling a student in the program.
In other words, acceptance decisions are need-blind. We do still think it is best for students and parents to discuss the financial considerations of participating in a program prior to applying. This is particularly true for families that are applying in our “scholarship” tier, since parents will need to complete our Parent Statement of Financial Circumstances and submit a recent tax return.
Why Tiered Tuition
Sustainable Summer operates on a tiered tuition model. This structure is designed to make participation in a Sustainable Summer program accessible and affordable. Even higher earning families may face temporary financial setbacks or needs, such as loss of a job or multiple siblings in college. A tiered tuition model helps ensure families from across the economic spectrum are able to participate in a program. We’ve been using this model successfully for several years. Internal analysis indicates that there has been little to no “abuse” of the “no questions asked” discount we offer families. Some of the administrative strain of managing our financial aid program is reduced and families that need a bit of extra financial help to participate have one less application to worry about. This is a win-win scenario and we think more organizations in our field should use a tiered tuition model.
The Value of a Sustainable Summer Program
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a commitment to socio-economic diversity in our student population. Our programs are primarily funded by participant tuition, with supplemental support from generous individual donors as well as corporate and government sponsors. We work incredibly hard to run great programs that use our funds as efficiently as possible. Approximately 83% of every dollar our organization receives goes towards our program costs. We are confident that you will not find a better value anywhere in the pre-college field.
A Philosophy of Mutual Trust
You are entrusting your son or daughter’s health, well-being, and education to us. In return, we are entrusting the financial health of our organization to our families. Our ability to continue to offer tiered tuition is contingent upon mutual trust between Sustainable Summer and our families. Some families will clearly fall in our standard tier or scholarship tier. For many, the delineation is much less clear as the total cost of participation pushes up against annual family budgets.
Like any educational opportunity, the program is an investment in the future, and we think students should work an after-school job, skip the daily Starbucks routine, and similar to help fund their participation. Likewise, we’re not asking parents to skip a mortgage payment, go into credit card debit, or stop saving for college and retirement, but if you’re thinking about our tuition assistance rate as an easy way to save a few hundred dollars towards a family trip to Disneyworld, you’re thinking about this the wrong way.
It is important to note that the true cost of participation is the standard tuition rate. Administrative staff salary and benefits, office expenses and utilities, insurance, student recruitment costs, training, equipment and supplies, legal and accounting fees, capital investments and bank fees, and other administrative costs are an essential part of our program operations. Participating at the tuition assistance rate does not cover any of these expenses – only the direct participation costs – and Sustainable Summer depends on a healthy percentage of standard rate participants (supplemented by our own fundraising activities) so that we can continue offering our programs to deserving young people for decades to come.
Standard
This is our standard course fee, which represents the actual cost of operating our programs, including the administrative costs that are necessary to sustain our organization in the long-term.
Tuition Assistance
Participants at this tuition rate cover only their direct participation costs, including lodging, meals, activities, in-country staff and transportation, and support for local projects.
When applying to a program, students do not need to indicate their tuition tier. All acceptance decisions are need-blind. Parents that select “tuition assistance” when enrolling a student in the program will receive the discounted tuition rate which will be applied to their invoice.
Scholarship
Additional scholarship funding is available for students that are unable to participate at either of the above rates. Scholarship participants receive up to 100% of program tuition in financial assistance.
IMPORTANT: Please see our scholarship information for detailed information before submitting an application to Sustainable Summer.
Refund Policy
In the event a family decides to withdraw from participation, refunds are issued on the following schedule:
- All tuition payments less the non-refundable enrollment deposit are fully refundable up to April 1st.
- Tuition payments less the non-refundable enrollment deposit and a $500 cancellation fee are refundable up to May 1st.
- There are no refunds after May 1st.
For information on deferring enrollment or changing program, please see our FAQs.
Payment Schedule
With some exceptions for students enrolling prior to the end of the calendar year or that specifically request a payment plan, the balance of tuition is due on the following schedule:
- For enrollments on or prior to February 15th, tuition balances are due March 15th
- For enrollments after Feb 15th, tuition balances are due within 30 days of enrollment
- For enrollments received less than 30 days from a program start date, final tuition balances must be paid within 7 days of enrollment. (If program start date is fewer than 7 days from enrollment date, full payment is due immediately and an additional $95 late fee is applicable).
Interest free payment plans are available on request as part of our financial assistance program. All tuition balances are payable online by e-check/ACH, by check drawn on a US bank account, or by money order. On request, credit card payments for tuition balances are possible, but will be assessed a 2.2% processing fee. (NOTE: there is no fee for credit card payments on the application fee and initial enrollment deposit for all families). International tuition balance payments can be paid by credit card in US currency plus 2.2% processing fee or by wire transfer plus a $25 bank servicing fee.