Admissions

Affording Gould

Flexible Tuition at Gould Academy: Making Exceptional Education Accessible for All Families

We believe that cost should not be the deciding factor in a family’s choice of education. Thanks to the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends of the school, nearly 25 percent of Gould families receive awards that total nearly $3 million. 

Flexible Tuition amounts are generated based on an evaluation of assets, income, expenses, and debts with the goal of finding the right-fit amount to help each family make Gould Academy part of their child’s educational journey. Additionally, Gould has three Merit awards, given to students who go above and beyond and who meet certain criteria. Families who qualify for Flexible Tuition may also be awarded merit aid in some circumstances.

Live in Maine? Apply for our Maine Neighbors Funds! 
If Maine is your home, we’d love for you to think of Gould Academy as an extension of where you live. We’ve set aside special funds just for Maine families to help make Gould more affordable. Whether applying for Flexible Tuition or just looking for the right school, we want Maine families to consider Gould first, no matter your income.


Tuition and Fees

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  • Price to Attend Gould

    2024-2025 Tuition
    • Boarding Students: $73,130
    • Day Students: $54,848
    Tuition is approved annually by the Gould Academy Board of Trustees; the Board sets tuition for the next academic year in February.

  • Additional Program Fees

      English Studies Program: $5,665
      Academic Skills Comprehensive Program: $11,845
      International Student fee: $5,070 (includes health insurance)

      Other programs with additional fees include Competitive Enduro Mountain Biking, Winter Athletic Competition Program, Varsity-Level Ski and Nordic Ski Program.  

      Admissions reps will review these fees during the admissions process, as applicable to each family.

    Flexible Tuition

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    • How to Apply for Flexible Tuition

      Gould's Flexible Tuition program is designed to make a Gould education possible for all families based on each family’s individual circumstances and the availability of funds. Gould is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s right-fit tuition based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

      To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. Your 1040 and W2 documents from 2023 will be automatically transferred from the IRS when you complete the verification step, so you will no longer need to upload those documents manually. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools. 

      Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application. Gould requires you to upload additional tax documentation including 1040s, and W2s, and for family members who own a business, your Schedule K, E and/or S4s, and any other related tax documents as those become available.

      Gould takes the privacy and security of your personal information very seriously. Clarity is certified for both GDPR and SOC2 and uses enterprise-level security standards including end-to-end encryption of all personally identifiable information. For more information, please refer to Clarity’s Privacy Policy. 

      Families will need to submit a Clarity application each year in order to qualify for Flexible Tuition; however, Clarity retains your information from previous applications, so it will be even easier to reapply.

    • Returning Families: January 15

      • Clarity Application due January 15 with 1040s and W2s for 2024 due by February 1st.
      • For family members who own their own business please submit your Schedule K, E and/or S4s, and any other related tax documents

    • New Families: February 1

      • Clarity Application with 1040s and W2s for 2024 due by February 1.
      • For family members who own their own business, please submit your Schedule K, E and/or S4s and any other related tax documents.

    • Additional Flexible Tuition Resources

      25-26 Clarity Family Application Guide

      25-26 Clarity Family Application Guide SPANISH

      How to Apply: A Quick Reference Guide

      How to Apply: A Quick Reference Guide SPANISH

      Video Introduction to Clarity for Families

      If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish. 

    • Important things to know

      • Gould only accepts electronic copies of application documents through the Clarity online system.
      • New families have the option of writing a letter of request, which will be used in the initial conversations on Flexible Tuition.
      • New families will be notified of their Flexible Tuition amount with their acceptance packets on March 10. In order to accept their Flexible Tuition amount, families must enroll by April 10.
      • Returning families must complete the Clarity application every year in order to receive a Flexible Tuition amount. This amount may not be the same percent discount that they received the prior year. If a family has had a change in salary or expenses, the Financial Aid Committee asks that they write a letter explaining their request for a change in their award.
      • Returning family awards will be updated as needed, and the family will be notified of their Flexible Tuition amount with their re-enrollment agreement. In order to accept this Flexible Tuition amount, families must enroll their student by the set date per their enrollment agreement.
      • Gould’s process allows for a single appeal per year. Families are asked to complete this appeal application and return to the Admissions Office along with the Expense and Benefit Form and any required documentation. The appeal process will begin upon receipt of this form.
      • The Financial Aid Committee is made up of the Assistant Head of School for Enrollment Management, Chief Financial Officer, and Director of Financial Aid.

    Gould Academy Strengthens Community Through Merit Awards, Supporting Student Success

    These awards are given to students who have proven academic success and excel in arts, athletics, STEM/design thinking, and/or demonstrate leadership qualities.

    To be considered for our merit awards, students must:
    • complete the application process with Gould
    • be new boarding or day students entering grades 9-11
    • continue to uphold excellence in Gould standards throughout their career here
    All applicants in our pool will be considered for these awards. No additional materials are required. 

    Merit awards will be included in the acceptance materials on March 10th. For late applications, awards will be made as funds remain available. 

    Please note that the number of merit awards is limited.

    Merit-Based Scholarships at Gould

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    • The 1836 Award

      Founded in 1836, Gould has led the way in innovation and excellence. From being the first school with its own blog, to creating the IDEAS Center, Gould values leadership and innovation and nurtures globally minded citizens.  The 1836 Award honors students who model those Gould values through excellence in academics, athletics, arts, and innovation.

    • The Dirigo Award

      Dirigo, which is latin for to lead, appears in the Maine state seal. This award is given to select Maine students who show excellence in leadership as well as academics, athletics, arts and/or innovation and design thinking.

    • The Legacy Award

      As an Academy that values tradition as well as innovation, Gould is honored to offer awards to the grandchildren and children of Gould Alumni who qualify for admission.
    To learn more about requirements, meeting needs, evaluation of needs, the award process, please contact anyone on our Admissions team.
    39 Church Street P.O. Box 860 Bethel, Maine 04217  |  Phone: 207-824-7777
    Independent High School for Boys and Girls | Grades 9-12, Postgraduate and Winter Term for Grades 7-8 | Boarding School in the Mountains of Maine

    Gould Academy guides students to be creative, courageous and resilient and to lead lives of fulfillment and purpose.