Most private schools in Orange County offer need-based financial aid, which reduces part of the tuition according to the family’s financial circumstances. Parents do not submit financial information directly to the school. Instead, they submit it through a third-party platform, the platform compiles a report, and the school then decides the amount. The two platforms most commonly used by Orange County schools are FACTS and Clarity.
Four points to understand first
The deadline often matches the application
Many schools set the financial aid deadline on the same day as the admission application, and some set it earlier. Build it into the same schedule as the admission application.
The school decides the amount
The platform only performs the financial analysis; the school makes the final decision on whether to award aid and how much.
Most schools admit without regard to finances
Harbor Day, TVT, Pacifica and other schools state that aid applications do not affect admission review.
Financial aid is not a scholarship
Financial aid is based on family need; scholarships are based on grades or test results, are unrelated to income and have a different application process.
Two platforms: FACTS and Clarity
FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment
The platform used most often by Orange County schools in the database on this site
- An independent third party that analyzes the application and tax documents and sends a confidential report to the school
- Requires federal tax returns, W-2 forms and proof of nontaxable income
- The application fee, if any, is shown at the time of application
- Has no income threshold and does not restrict who can apply
- Each school sets its own deadline; schools can be added after submission
Clarity
Used by Harbor Day, Sage Hill, St. Margaret's, TVT, Pegasus and other schools
- One account per family, with schools added in the student section
- Evaluates the family's ability to pay based on income, expenses, assets and liabilities
- Can verify income and tax information through the IRS, reducing document uploads
- Even after successful verification, the school may still request additional documents
- Families that meet income and asset criteria may receive an automatic fee waiver
Financial aid arrangements at nine schools (2027-28 school year)
Mater Dei High School
FACTS- Opens
- September 1, 2026, the same day as the admission application
- Deadline
- FACTS verification must be complete by December 7
- Decision
- On-time applicants are notified in January 2027
- Documents
- Tax returns, W-2 forms, recent pay stubs, rent or mortgage statements
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
FACTS- Fee
- $45 processing fee
- Deadline
- November 15 for the first round, then rolling monthly
- Decision
- Notifications sent from December 1
JSerra Catholic High School
Platform not stated on website- Opens
- The website lists two dates, September 1 and October 1; confirm with the school
- Documents
- Tax returns and W-2 forms, submitted separately from the admission application
Also offers several scholarships that are not need-based.
Sage Hill School
Clarity- Approach
- Flexible Tuition, priced according to family financial capacity
- Fee
- $65 submission fee
- Deadline
- January 31, 2027 for new families
Pacifica Christian High School
Platform not stated on website- Opens
- October 1, 2026
- Deadline
- January 15, 2027, the same day as the admission application
- Note
- Separate from the admission application; does not affect admission
Harbor Day School
Clarity- Fee
- $60 submission fee
- Opens and closes
- December 1, 2026 to February 5, 2027
- Decision
- New families receive it with the enrollment contract
- Note
- Admission is need-blind; aid must be reapplied for every year
St. Margaret's Episcopal School
Clarity- Opens
- October 1
- Deadline
- December 1 for early applicant families; February 15 for new families
- Decision
- Early March, with the admission notice
Offers need-based aid only, with no merit scholarships.
TVT Community Day School
Clarity- Opens and closes
- For new families, opens December 1 and closes February 1
- Decision
- Announced in early March with the admission notice
- Note
- Completely separate from admission review
The Pegasus School
Clarity- Fee
- $60 submission fee
- Deadline
- January 4, 2027, the same as the admission application
- Documents
- Current-year tax returns and W-2 forms
Financial aid can also be used for after-school activities, extended care, lunch, bus service and similar costs.
Admission arrangements for Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, JSerra and Sage Hill were checked on September 26, 2026; financial aid details for each school were compiled from school websites (school database on this site checked on September 8, 2026). Schools update their policies every year; follow each school's announcements for the current year before applying.
Five steps to apply
- 1
September
Confirm the platform and deadline
On each school's tuition or financial aid page, confirm whether the school uses FACTS or Clarity and when the deadline falls.
- 2
September to October
Prepare financial documents
Federal tax returns, W-2 forms, recent pay stubs, and rent or mortgage statements or other documents the school requires.
- 3
Before the deadline
Submit online and pay the fee
Complete the application on the platform, add schools, and pay the application or processing fee.
- 4
After submission
Respond to document requests
The platform or the school may request additional documents; upload them promptly as the email instructs.
- 5
When decisions arrive
Compare the aid awards
Aid decisions usually arrive with the admission notice; compare the actual tuition at each school side by side.
Once aid decisions from several schools are in hand, compare the actual tuition after aid, not the published tuition. This step can be done together with the enrollment decision after admission results arrive.
