Tuition and Fees 2023-24

Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of $1,000 is due when the enrollment contract is submitted. 

Payment Plans
Several payment options are available for payment of tuition and mandatory fees. Tuition is not refunded beyond March 10, 2023.

One-Payment Plan
Pay the full year’s tuition and fees by June 2023.

Two-Payment Plan
Pay half year’s tuition and fees by June 2023, and half year’s tuition and fees by November 2023.

Monthly Payment Plan
Families who receive tuition assistance may opt to pay their tuition on a quarterly or monthly basis. 

The school's need-based tuition assistance program, available to families with students in nursery through eighth grade, enables the school to enroll students who might not otherwise have access to an independent and Jewish education.
 
A Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School education is now accessible to more families than ever thanks to a significant pledge our school received from the Zell Family Foundation. This generous gift established the Zell Family Fund for Jewish Education in order to help Jewish families in Chicago who are committed to providing their children with an outstanding education shaped by Jewish values regardless of economic circumstance. 
 
A neutral third-party organization, Blackbaud Financial Aid Management, assists the school's tuition assistance award process by providing recommendations regarding a family's need. Blackbaud Financial Aid Management analyzes families' applications and establishes a base that enables the school to measure each family's need equitably. Assistance is given based on the availability of funds.

The grid below is designed to provide families with a general idea of qualification levels for tuition assistance based solely on household income. Actual tuition assistance awards are based on income, assets and resources. Since each family's situation is unique, the Committee gives careful attention to each family application individually.

*For general reference only 

**Total number of full-time students under the age of 26, including those not attending Bernard Zell

The tuition assistance application process is a separate and independent part of the application for admission. An application for tuition assistance does not influence the decision to admit a student to the school.

December 31, 2022: Tuition assistance applications are due for all current and new applicant families.

It is vital that applications be received by the deadline, as the school cannot guarantee assistance funding will be available after this time.

1. Submit your application.

Complete all parts of the application through Blackbaud Financial Aid Management. Before completing the form, carefully read all instructions. Any omission on the application will result in a delay in awarding tuition assistance.

• Please visit https://studentfinancialaid.blackbaud.school. Register as a New User or access your account. 

• Enter a valid email address and a password of your choice.

• Once you are confirmed with a username and password, you will be logged in and can start the application process.

• When prompted, please use the following school ID code: 12495.

For assistance in filling out the application or retrieving login information you can contact Smart either by phone at 1-800-360-8027 or by e-mail at financialaidsupport@blackbaud.school. No paper applications will be available. All documentation should be submitted directly through Blackbaud Financial Aid Management.  

2. Submit supporting documentation to Blackbaud Financial Aid Management by application deadline (see above).

All applications submitted require the below documentation in order to be reviewed. Applications received without the requested documentation will not be processed.

• Most recent pay-stubs and W2 statements for all jobs

• Most recently filed federal tax form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ with all schedules

• Most recently filed business tax return, 1041, 1065, 1120, or 1120S (if applicable)

• Any supplemental income documentation. Example: 1099 forms, social security, welfare, food stamps, unemployment, child support, workers compensation, veteran benefits, rental income, etc.

Tuition assistance is available to families with children of all ages. Awards are determined based on recommendations from an independent, third-party organization. A variety of factors are considered.

Tuition assistance is a strictly confidential matter and the admissions process is need-blind. Neither the admissions committee nor Bernard Zell faculty, staff or community members have knowledge of tuition assistance applications and/or awards.

If you are filing a tax extension, please send proof that you are filing an extension directly to Blackbaud Financial Aid Management.

All parents/legal guardians must complete an online application via Blackbaud Financial Aid Management, our independent, third-party financial aid company, and submit the requested tax returns. The tuition assistance committee takes into consideration the ability of both parents and their spouses, if any, to contribute to the child’s education.

The following documents are required. All supporting documentation is due to Blackbaud Financial Aid Management by December 31.

• most recent Federal Income Tax Return

• most recent W2s /1099 forms and recent pay stubs

• All required schedules

• Awards will be tentative until current year documentation is submitted to and verified by Blackbaud Financial Aid Management or Bernard Zell (if using the short form).

Should you have questions related to Tuition Assistance that are not answered on this section of the website, please contact our Business Office at 773.572.1233.