Affording Nido

Tuition at Nido is cost based. That is, tuition covers the operating costs associated with educating each child from teacher salaries to building maintenance. Tuition assistance is available for families that share Nido's values and appreciate its pedagogical approach but are unable to afford the entire cost of tuition.

The tuition assistance program is need-based, and, if awarded, can apply towards tuition and/or the incorporation fee. Assistance accounts for no more than 50% of the full tuition cost. The amount of tuition assistance available each year is limited. Nido works hard to support as many families that qualify with the funding that is available.

All families must complete an application in order to be considered for tuition assistance. The process starts in November of the prior school year and decisions are informed in April during re-enrollment. Assistance is offered on an annual basis for the Nido school year (July to June). Families are asked to resubmit their application each year in order to determine if their situation has changed.

Assistance is awarded based on the following criteria:

Financial need
Academic achievement and potential of the applicant
Availability of funding
Preference is given to students in an admissions priority category, students entering grades 6-12, and according to grade capacity.

Application Process

The application process for the 2024-2025 school year will begin in November 2023. All current Nido families will receive information over email when applications open.

Applications for Current Nido Families are due no later than January 15 and applications for families applying to Nido for the first time are due no later than March 15. New families go through the process simultaneously to the admissions application process. To apply, contact financialaid@nido.cl.

Emergency Assistance

Nido has an emergency tuition assistance program, available year-round, and applicable in the case of employment loss and/or illness. Emergency assistance accounts for no more than 30% of the full tuition cost. For more information, contact: financialaid@nido.cl.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for financial assistance?

In order to apply for financial assistance families need to complete an application form and send the requested documents (which include but are not limited to job contract, payslips, bank statements, investment and debt certificates). Current Nido families must apply for financial assistance annually; new families must complete the process in parallel with their admissions application to the School. The process also includes a personal interview and home visit. To begin the application process, please contact financialaid@nido.cl.

When is the application deadline?

To apply for financial assistance for the 2022-2023 Nido school year (starting in July 2022), current Nido families must complete the application form and send all requested documents by January 15, 2022. New families will complete the process in parallel with their application to the School and must complete the financial assistance part of their application by March 15, 2022.

How much financial assistance will I be granted?

The decision about how much assistance is awarded to each student will depend on the parents’ income, living expenses, assets and savings, as demonstrated in their application form and supporting documents. Financial assistance can cover a maximum of 50% of a student's tuition fees and is assessed each year based on the family's financial situation and funds available.

How is it decided who to grant aid to and how much?

The financial aid committee thoroughly assesses each family individually and uses best practice models from educational institutions around the world in order to decide whether to grant aid to a family. The decision as to whether to grant aid takes into account various factors: financial need, academic achievement/potential, special talents, and funds available. The School also gives preference to students entering grades 6-12, with a special preference for grades 9-12, as well as to applications for grades that are not at full enrollment.

How many students are currently on financial aid?

Where do the funds for the financial aid program come from?

How much does Nido spend on financial aid and how many students are supported each year?

The financial aid program was launched in 2017 with 13 students on financial assistance in its first year. Since then the financial aid program has grown both in number of student’s awarded aid and funds awarded due to steady growth of the School’s endowment fund and generous donations from the Nido community.

School Year	Students	Funds (UF)
2017-2018	13	2491
2018-2019	43	6913
2019-2020	60	7886
2020-2021	58	8230

When will I find out if my child has been awarded aid?

Will other families know that my family is on financial aid?

The financial aid process is strictly confidential. Nido does not publicly release information regarding who is on aid and only the members of the financial aid committee involved in the process of awarding the aid know which families receive aid. Your children’s teachers, other parents and students will not be aware your child is on aid unless you inform them yourself.

What happens if I miss the deadline? Can I apply for financial assistance during the school year?

The available funds are fully allocated to applications received before the deadline. As a result, there are no funds available after the deadline and we do not accept late applications. Regular financial aid is an annual process and applications open once a year. If your family’s financial situation changes suddenly during the year, you can apply for emergency financial aid. For more information, email financialaid@nido.cl.

What happens if my family has a sudden drastic change in our financial situation (such as job loss or illness) during the school year?

The emergency financial aid program is designed to support families whose financial situation suddenly changes during the school year. The program supports the family, based on their financial need, until their situation improves or until the new school year when they can apply for the regular financial aid program. This program is designed to support families in emergency situations such as sudden loss of employment or illness. For more information, email financialaid@nido.cl.

I already submitted an application form and documents last year, do I need to send them in again?

Families need to reapply for financial assistance every year and send updated documents. This is in order to assess that the situation has not changed. The process is reviewed annually completely anew, and past applications are not taken into account. If a family on financial aid does not complete this process for the new school year, they will not be offered financial aid for the new year.

Does the financial aid application process include a home visit?

I prefer not to share my financial and employment information with the School, can I apply without them?

We understand that the documents we ask for contain sensitive personal information and assure you that this information is reviewed in strict confidence. Nido follows best practices in financial aid programs from educational institutions around the world, which also require this documentation from applicants. Reviewing these documents enables the committee to thoroughly review each case, to make an informed and transparent decision. Without supplying the supporting documentation, an application is not complete and will not be reviewed.

What is the Nido Scholars program?

Is there a discount for having more than one child at Nido? Am I more likely to get assistance if I have more than one child at Nido?

Financial assistance at Nido is granted based on a family’s financial need. The School does not offer sibling discounts. A family with more children at Nido is spending a higher amount on education than a family with one child, so, depending on their income and resources, may in turn have a higher need for financial assistance. Each family is different and that’s why the School’s financial aid process reviews each family individually and thoroughly.

I am a Nido alumni and would like to send my children to Nido. Is the fact I am an alumni taken into account and am I given any preference?

Nido is proud to have a strong alumni community and many former students among its parent body. The Alumni Scholarship Fund is a financial aid fund specifically for the children of Nido alumni in financial need. It is funded exclusively by generous donations from Nido alumni. Please bear in mind that for all applications, financial need and availability of funds are the primary considerations when granting aid.