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Bringing CA Within Reach
At CA, we’re committed to enrolling students who share our commitment to discovery, collaboration, collaboration, and excellence. Socioeconomic status shouldn’t have to come into play. That’s why we’re committed to bringing the CA experience within reach for all qualified families through generous need-based financial assistance.
Our Charger Promise
Free tuition for families earning $100,000 or less*, with significant, scaled support extending far beyond that.
Charger Promise is available to both new and returning Chargers. With Charger Promise:
Families with a combined household income of $100,000 or less* will pay no cost to attand Cary Academy, including free tuition, dining, transportation, textbooks, and before-care and extended-day programs.
Families with a diverse range of economic profiles above that threshold qualify for reductions covering anywhere from 54-95% of the cost of attendance.
Supplementary Discovery Allowances provide all students receiving financial assistance with support for non-tuition expenses that might otherwise limit participation (e.g. academic competitions, global learning excursions, tutoring, enrichment programs, athletic gear, specialized activities, etc.)
*assumes asset profile consistent with income
Financial Assistance
Every year, CA awards over $3.4 million in financial aid grants ranging from $1,000 to full tuition and fees. Considered gifts do not have to be repaid, our grants are made based on demonstrated need–the difference between what your family can pay and the actual cost of your expenses.
Once accepted for admission, we consider your family’s financial need and the availability of school funds to determine the amount of aid that we can offer. (Don’t worry, we keep all of your financial information and your aid status strictly confidential.)
While financial aid is granted year-to-year (you’ll need to reapply for financial assistance every year), we are committed to supporting you through graduation, provided there is ongoing demonstrated need.
The financial aid application will be available on September 10, 2026. For families new to CA, the deadline for financial aid applications is January 15, 2027. Applications for financial assistance are accepted after the deadline; however funding is not typically available for late applicants. All aid decisions rest solely with the Cary Academy Financial Aid Committee. We strongly advise any applicants interested in in financial assistance to complete a financial aid application before the stated first consideration deadline. Due to limited funds, Cary Academy cannot guarantee meeting a family’s demonstrated need if the financial aid applicatiion is submitted after an offer of enrollment.
3.4M
Granted in need-based assistance annually
$23K
Average Annual Need-based Grant
100%
Demonstrated need met
Application FAQs
Cary Academy provides need-based financial aid grants to eligible families, which are not required to be repaid. We do not offer merit, academic, or athletic scholarships.
The admissions and financial aid applications, though parallel in their timing, are reviewed confidentially by two separate committees. If you meet the first consideration deadline for admissions and financial aid and your child is admitted to CA, we will meet 100% of your family’s demonstrated financial need. We strongly advise any applicants interested in financial assistance to complete a financial aid application before the stated first consideration deadline. Due to limited funds, Cary Academy cannot guarantee meeting a family’s demonstrated need if the financial aid application is submitted after an offer of enrollment.
Waivers are available for families who meet certain income guidelines or have a demonstrated hardship. Please email admissions@caryacademy.org for more information.
We do not accept the NC Opportunity Scholarship.
We strongly encourage any family who wish to apply for aid to do so by the first consideration deadline of the first academic year that they plan to enroll as we cannot guarantee the availability of funds in future years. Families who experience a significant reduction in income while their student is enrolled should contact the Enrollment office for further assistance.
All natural and/or adoptive parents, stepparents/partners, and legal guardians are required to submit an application for the consideration of need-based aid, unless legal documentation asserts otherwise. When parents are separated, divorced, or never married, the income and assets of both custodial and non-custodial parents are considered. All parents, including current spouses (stepparents) of each natural child, are required to provide financial information as the addition of another adult income-earner impacts the family’s financial profile. Separate applications can be completed, and details remain confidential in instances where the parents reside in separate households. Please review our FA policies document for additional details.
For all children above the age of 6, Cary Academy generally expects both parents to work outside of the home. Special circumstances that impact one or both parents’ ability to work (i.e. caregiving for an older loved one or a child below the age of 6 who lives in the home, chronic health issues, etc.) and are considered by the committee when determining the amount of need-based aid. The Financial Aid committee will impute an income amount for the parent who chooses not to work outside of the home if there are no special circumstances that preclude them from doing so.
The committee will review all submitted information on the application. You can provide narrative detail as additional information at the end of the application.
Acceptance
A family’s financial profile can change from year to year, and we want to ensure we are considering the most up-to-date information in our determination, so every family must reapply for aid each year.
Financial aid grants are visible on the enrollment contract at the time of admission. Please review your contract and the relevant payment plan information for additional details as you are making your enrollment decision.
The committee can reconsider an initial application if there is additional information that was not considered by the committee in the initial review. Please reach out to us for more details.
Applicants are considered for need-based aid with submission of their financial aid application in Clarity. Families with a combined household income of $100,000 or less with an asset profile typical of that income will pay no cost to attend Cary Academy, including free tuition, dining, transportation, textbooks, and extended day programs. Tiered, need-based grant support is also available for families above that income range, and they are also eligible for discounts on transportation, textbooks, and extended day programs.
Students who receive aid also receive additional financial assistance with the cost of textbooks, extended day, and transportation. A Discovery Allowance is also available to students to support other non-tuition expenses and allow students to fully participate in the academic and social aspects of the school. Each summer, families receive a Personalized Aid Index (PAI) that details all additional support.
Cary Academy reserves the right to adjust any financial aid grants of families who receive the SAS scholarship, and any changes will be communicated to the family in an email addendum.