Riverdale Country School: Tuition, Costs, and Financial Aid Opportunities
Riverdale Country School, a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City, offers a comprehensive education for students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Located on two campuses in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, the school is committed to helping students achieve the confidence, competence, and commitment to make the world a better place. Understanding the financial commitment involved in private education, Riverdale Country School provides various financial aid opportunities to ensure socio-economic diversity within its community.
About Riverdale Country School
Founded in 1907 by Frank Sutliff Hackett and his wife, Francis Dean (Allen) Hackett, Riverdale Country School is one of the oldest country day schools in the United States. Originally a school for boys, it became fully coeducational in 1972 and currently serves 1,140 students. The school is located on two campuses: the Hill Campus, covering 19.5 acres (79,000 m2), and the River Campus, spanning 8 acres (32,000 m2) along the Hudson River.
Riverdale Country School offers a wide range of courses, including college-preparatory classes in math, science, and humanities, as well as "maker" programs that combine science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, alongside courses in robotics and coding. Language offerings include Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. The school also emphasizes interdisciplinary courses and Integrated Liberal Studies, focusing on virtue, the self, social justice, and the environment.
Riverdale boasts a robust athletic program with 31 varsity interscholastic sports teams and numerous extracurricular activities such as musical and theatrical productions, jazz and concert bands, orchestra, and a cappella groups.
Tuition and Associated Costs
As with many top private high schools in New York City, tuition at Riverdale Country School represents a significant investment. While the exact tuition figure may vary, it is essential to consider the total educational costs, which include lunch, books, and required activities. Families with Lower School students should also budget for after-school care and transportation.
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Financial Aid at Riverdale Country School
Recognizing the importance of socio-economic diversity, Riverdale Country School has a substantial financial aid budget to support families who demonstrate need. For example, Riverdale has a $12 million financial aid budget. The school aims to meet 100% of demonstrated need, expecting families to use all available resources, including employment potential, to contribute towards tuition.
Financial aid is also available for some co-curricular programs, including after-school and summer programs, global studies trips, and athletic, artistic, and service-learning activities. Riverdale offers need-based grants to families who demonstrate need through the financial aid application process.
The Financial Aid Application Process
To apply for financial aid, families must complete the financial aid application and submit their previous year’s complete federal tax return. Each application is assessed individually, taking into account various aspects of a family’s finances, including expenses, assets, debts, and income. There is no income cutoff for families receiving financial aid.
Riverdale Country School partners with Clarity’s software platform to facilitate the financial aid application process. To begin, families need to create an account with Clarity, complete the financial aid application, upload the necessary supporting documents, and submit the application. The Clarity School Code for Riverdale is 5250.
The financial aid application deadline is December 15, 2025, for prospective Riverdale families and December 1, 2025, for current Riverdale families. Current parents applying for a sibling should complete their financial aid application for all children by December 1, 2025.
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To complete the application on the Clarity platform, families will need their 2024 tax documents and documentation about their current income and household expenses.
Separate Decisions
Decisions about admission and financial aid are made separately. However, information about the financial aid application will accompany the acceptance letter.
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