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Maintaining socio-economic diversity in our student body is one of our top priorities at Mills College Children’s School (MCCS). Compared to other Bay Area independent schools, our annual tuition is lower than most, and our financial aid program helps to make our school accessible to more families by granting awards to those who would not otherwise be able to attend. Still, we recognize that virtually every family makes a considerable financial commitment to be at our school, and our parents, staff, and supporters work diligently each year to raise scholarship funds.

How to Apply

In an effort to ensure the broadest possible use for these funds, we use an outside screening service: School and Student Service (SSS) for Financial Aid, an affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools. This application process, which takes into consideration your family’s income as well as your expenses, is used by most private schools in the Bay Area.

  • Financial aid applications for the 2023-24 school year are now online.
Begin Financial Aid Application
  • Designate MCCS: School code 3003. You can list as many schools as you wish to receive your screening results. Please do not send your SSS form directly to MCCS. 
  • Upload your taxes. Before any award decisions can be made, we require a copy of your most recently completed federal tax return, which can be uploaded to the SSS website. We will accept 2021 tax returns until your 2022 returns are ready. All awards are considered pending (and could be reduced) until they can be referenced against your 2022 taxes, so we ask that you upload them as soon as they are ready, even after tuition assistance has been awarded. If your 2022 taxes will better reflect your need for assistance, it is in your best interest to complete your return as early as possible. Please do not send your tax documents directly to MCCS. 

More Resources

The SSS website offers a variety of resources and tools for families. Easily accessible PDF guides for understanding how to complete the PFS and the financial aid process are available in English and Spanish here:

  • How to Apply for Financial Aid Flyer
  • PFS Workbook 
  • Understanding Your Family Report 
  • Online webinars available for on-demand viewing

If you have questions as you complete your PFS or submit documents in the SSS Family Portal, please contact the SSS Family Support Center. Assistance is available in English as well as Spanish by phone at 800-344-8328 and by email at sss@communitybrands.com.

Deadlines

December 9, 2022: Application deadline for returning MCCS families. 

January 17, 2023: Elementary application deadline. If you are applying for siblings to both the elementary and early childhood programs, please submit your financial aid application by this deadline.

February 24, 2023: Early Childhood deadline. If you are only applying to the early childhood program, please submit your financial aid application by this deadline.

If you apply to either program later in the admissions cycle, please submit your financial aid application when you apply for admission.

Additional Tuition Assistance

We encourage all families to consider applying for financial support from other groups that provide scholarships to students at independent schools, such as:

Questions?

Please contact the MCCS Admissions Team:

Jenny Bond, Assistant Head of School

j.bond@northeastern.edu 

Mills College Children’s School

5000 MacArthur Boulevard

Oakland, CA 94613

510.430.2056 ph

510.430.3223 fax