Understanding Ransom Everglades School Tuition and Affordability

Ransom Everglades School, a prominent independent, co-educational, college-preparatory day school in Miami, Florida, serves students in grades six through twelve. Founded in 1903, the school has a rich history and a strong reputation for academic excellence, experiential learning, and community involvement. This article delves into the tuition fees associated with attending Ransom Everglades, as well as the financial aid opportunities available to families.

Ransom Everglades School: A Brief Overview

Ransom Everglades School is located in Coconut Grove, Florida. Paul C. Ransom, an educator and New York lawyer, founded Pine Knot Camp in 1896 as a school for boys in Coconut Grove. The school emphasizes experiential learning. The school suspended operations during World War II; after the war the school reopened in 1947. In 1949 the Adirondack campus was shut down and the school continued in Coconut Grove as the Ransom School for Boys. The Ransom School for Boys changed from a boarding to a day school in 1972; Its counterpart, the Everglades School for Girls, began in 1955 founded by Marie B. Ransom. The school occupies two campuses: the "Upper School" (Ransom Campus) for grades nine through twelve and a separate campus for lower grades.

Tuition and Fees: An Investment in Education

Ransom Everglades is recognized as the most expensive private school in Miami. Attending a private school like Ransom Everglades is a significant financial investment for families. While specific tuition figures are not provided in the source text, the school acknowledges this investment and strives to make its education accessible through financial aid programs.

Financial Aid: Making Ransom Everglades Accessible

Ransom Everglades School is proud to offer a generous financial aid program to ensure that it enrolls a diverse and talented student body. An applicant’s financial circumstances are not considered during the admission process. Ransom Everglades is committed to enrolling a diverse and talented student body, irrespective of their financial circumstances. Recognizing the financial commitment involved, the school offers a generous financial aid program to make its education accessible to deserving students.

Application Process and Deadlines

Financial aid applications for the 2026-27 school year are now available. Completed applications using Clarity should be submitted no later than January 15, 2026. To ensure objectivity, Ransom Everglades School uses Clarity to evaluate applications. Families should submit the online financial aid application here through Clarity. If you have several children attending or applying to Ransom Everglades, you only need to complete one application. You will set a username and password so that you may save information and return to it at a later time before submitting it. As part of the financial aid application, you will e-sign form 4506C Request for Transcript from the IRS. Families applying for financial aid should upload the following documents directly to Clarity: January 15, 2026: 2025 W-2 forms for both parents. If unavailable on January 15, upload copy of last pay stub for 2025 for both parents and upload 2025 W-2 immediately upon receipt. February 28, 2026: Complete 2025 Federal Income Tax Return with all schedules and W-2 forms for both parents.

The school employs a need-based financial aid model, meaning that the amount of aid awarded is determined by a family's ability to contribute to educational expenses. Here's a breakdown of key aspects of the financial aid program:

Utilizing Clarity for Evaluation

To ensure objectivity, Ransom Everglades School uses Clarity to evaluate applications. Families should submit the online financial aid application through Clarity.

Comprehensive Financial Assessment

A family's eligibility for financial assistance is determined through analysis of information provided on the financial aid application and the family's previous two years of tax returns. The application asks for financial information related to a family's total income and assets (taking into consideration income allowances and certain indebtedness). The tax return copies are used to corroborate information provided on the financial aid application. The Financial Aid Committee then analyzes a family’s financial picture and conducts a review. Clarity and our financial aid methodology help us determine a family's discretionary income.

Parental Responsibility and Sacrifice

We believe the primary responsibility for financing education rests with families. Our Financial Aid Committee’s goal is to evaluate each family's financial picture in such a manner that the family accepts some financial sacrifice for a Ransom Everglades education. The committee differentiates between necessary expenses and money spent for lifestyle choices. Beyond a certain point, we will not provide aid to offset lifestyle expenditures that could be directed toward education.

Divorced or Separated Parents

We believe both parents have an obligation to contribute, to the extent they can, to their children’s educational expenses. We take into account the assets and income of both biological parents. We cannot be bound by the assertion that one parent has disclaimed legally or otherwise responsibility for educational expenses. If either parent has remarried, we will consider the income of the step-parent, keeping in mind the obligation of that step-parent to that parent's biological children. If either parent lives in a household with another adult, we may consider the assets and income of that person, depending on circumstances.

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Consistent Aid in Subsequent Years

Families of currently enrolled students must go through the financial aid application process each year. Assuming its financial picture remains largely the same, a family can expect to make a similar contribution to tuition and related fees in successive years.

Avoiding Depletion of Savings

We discourage this approach. When a family submits a “full-pay” application to the school, this communicates that the family will be capable of covering all educational costs for the upcoming year and foreseeable future.

Fee Waivers for Clarity Application

Clarity uses family size, income and asset information in the application to assess a family's financial situation and automatically applies a fee waiver if the family qualifies.

Payment Plans

The school has a plan that allows financial aid families to spread the cost over 10 payments without a fee.

Key Considerations for Families Applying for Financial Aid

Complete the application thoroughly and honestly: The Financial Aid Committee relies on the accuracy of the information provided to make fair and informed decisions.
Meet all deadlines: Timely submission of all required documents is crucial for consideration. Financial aid applications for the 2026-27 school year are now available. Completed applications using Clarity should be submitted no later than January 15, 2026.
Understand the school's expectations for parental contribution: Ransom Everglades expects families to prioritize education and make reasonable financial sacrifices.
Re-apply for aid each year: Financial circumstances can change, so it's necessary to re-apply annually to ensure an accurate assessment of need. Yes. We will ask you to file a new financial aid application and submit your tax returns each year.
Communicate any significant changes in financial circumstances: If a family experiences a job loss, medical emergency, or other unforeseen event, it's important to inform the Financial Aid Office.

The Value of a Ransom Everglades Education

Despite the cost, many families believe that a Ransom Everglades education is a worthwhile investment in their child's future. The school's rigorous academic program, experienced faculty, diverse student body, and commitment to character development provide a unique and enriching learning environment.

Read also: Programs at Everglades University

Academic Excellence and Experiential Learning

At Ransom Everglades, academic excellence and the pursuit of intellectual growth are enhanced by interdisciplinary physical, cultural, and character development that strengthens a sense of identity, community, and integrity among students, with a focus on building a productive and satisfying life while contributing to society. Learning at RE is a continuous exploration. It is guided by each student’s curiosity and encouraged by master faculty. RE students learn to ask hard questions, think critically and collaborate across disciplines. They benefit from RE's 120-year tradition of experiential learning, the school’s breathtaking location on Biscayne Bay, and cutting-edge facilities and pedagogies.

Community and Values

Ransom Everglades students care about their communities and the environment. They are proud to serve the underserved, protect the endangered and stand up for justice. They value integrity and inclusion.

Matriculation and Faculty

Ransom Everglades School also have 71% of faculties whose degrees are master and above. Colleges and universities (in 22 states and three countries) at which RE's Class of 2025 is matriculating in 2025-26.

Summer Programs

Miami's best summer day camp is back! Summer at RE also offers sports camps for children entering kindergarten through 10th grades, academic enrichment opportunities for middle and high schoolers, and leadership development for high schoolers. Explore our programs below and learn all that Summer at RE has to offer in the historic neighborhood of Coconut Grove, Miami.

Camp by the Bay

Camp by the Bay extends to 8th grade with Explorers Academy, our premier middle-school day camp designed exclusively for 5th- through 8th-grade students. You’ll find the Camp by the Bay experience you’ve always loved - complete with the same cherished traditions - but elevated to match the interests and curiosity of older campers!At Explorers Academy, our mission is to recreate the excitement of a high-quality sleepaway camp complete with the comforts of home each night. Our build-your-own-camp model offers a Flex & Flow period featuring 1-3 day special experiences based on camper interests (survey will be sent prior to the start of camp), plus allowing campers to choose their camp activities each session.

Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program

The Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program is for students entering 9th or 10th grades, as they transition from day campers into future counselors. LITs receive service learning hours, training and instruction while being assigned to work with campers alongside a junior and senior counselor. The goal for LITs is to develop independence, leadership, and a sense of responsibility, while still enjoying the social aspect and activities of camp. After completing the program, LIT’s are eligible to become junior counselors in 11th and 12th grade.

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