Taft lists its 2026-27 tuition as $81,400 for boarding students (room and board included) and $60,050 for day students. Taft also says it commits to meeting 100% of a family's demonstrated need, and the aid application is due February 1, 2027. This guide covers what those numbers include, what they leave out, and how the aid process works for fall 2027 entry.
The 2026-27 numbers
| Student type | Tuition for 2026-27 | | --- | --- | | Boarding (includes room and board) | $81,400 | | Day | $60,050 |
Taft estimates about $2,000 for books and spending money, separate from tuition. It also says it does not charge extra fees such as a technology fee or a graduation fee. A deposit is due on enrollment, and Taft offers three payment plan choices that are described in the enrollment process. The pages we reviewed do not state the deposit amount or the payment plan details, so ask the business office or read the enrollment materials once admitted.
Tuition figures are for the current year. Families applying for fall 2027 should check Taft's costs page for the 2027-28 figures when the school posts them, and plan for the possibility that they differ.
How Taft financial aid works
- All aid is need-based. Taft says all awards are based on demonstrated need and that it does not offer merit-based awards. A strong test score or talent does not create an award by itself.
- Taft commits to meeting full need. The school says it commits to meeting 100% of a family's need according to its financial aid methodology, and that this includes international students.
- Day students can receive aid. Taft lists 48 day-student awards for 2026-27.
- Scale. Taft says 36% of its students receive a share of a $13.45 million financial aid budget, which includes nearly 225 named and endowed scholarships.
We did not find an average grant on the pages we reviewed, so we do not quote one.
Does asking for aid hurt admission?
Taft says it initially reviews applications with a need-blind approach. If overall need exceeds the aid budget, need may be weighed as one of many factors in admission decisions. In plain terms: the first read does not look at your ability to pay, but at the end the school may consider it if funds run short. Families who need aid should still apply for it on time.
How to apply for aid
Taft uses the Clarity Application to measure a family's level of need. It usually takes under 30 minutes, the submission fee is $65, and the application can be shared with other participating schools at no extra charge. After you submit, return to your Clarity dashboard, because Taft may ask you to upload additional tax documentation.
The deadline to finish the aid application, including the supporting documents, is February 1, 2027. That is about two weeks after the January 15 application deadline, so start gathering tax documents in December rather than waiting.
When you hear back
New applicants receive a Notice of Award on March 10, 2027, which is the same day Taft emails admission decisions. Admitted families then have until April 10 to enroll. Compare the award against the full cost of attendance, including the books and spending money estimate, before you decide.
Renewal each year
Aid recipients must reapply every academic year. Returning aid families are notified on February 15, 2027. Taft says families should expect assistance to continue throughout a student's Taft career, although the size of an award may vary from year to year with changes in family circumstances.
Fee waivers
Domestic families experiencing financial hardship can request a waiver of the application fee and the SSAT testing fee, starting August 1. Taft typically does not offer fee waivers for international students.
Comparing boarding and day cost
The gap between the two tuition figures is $21,350 for 2026-27. That gap reflects room and board, which Taft includes in the boarding figure. Day families still carry their own costs for getting to campus and for anything outside tuition, so build your budget from the school's costs page rather than from the headline number alone. If you are weighing both options, run the aid application once and ask the financial aid office how an award would look for each.
Who to ask
Taft's financial aid director can be reached at 860.945.7777. For application and visit questions, use the admission office at 860-945-7700 or admissions@taftschool.org.
Questions to ask yourself before applying
- Can we finish the Clarity Application and gather tax documents before February 1, 2027?
- Do we have the 2026-27 tuition and the books and spending estimate written down for the budget conversation?
- Are we applying to other schools that share the Clarity application, so we only fill it out once?
See the financial aid page, the timeline and the FAQ for the full picture, or read EduAvenues' general overview at https://www.eduavenues.com/highschoolprep.
Sources
TaftPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The Taft School.