Relationships—whether between students and faculty, students and administration, or faculty and administration—are at the core of the success of all our endeavors at Sunbridge Institute. We understand that finding ways to afford quality Waldorf teacher education often requires this same collaborative effort.
Our finance office works proactively with you—and, if applicable, with the school at which you work—to make you aware of all available options for financing your Waldorf teacher education; moreover, we offer discounts to schools that support four or more students in any teacher education program in the same academic year. Our finance director is available before every intensive to consult with you to discuss practical, manageable tuition payments options, including monthly payment plans, and to offer confidential, individual guidance where necessary.
Financial aid packages that reduce tuition costs by up to one third—and, in some cases, by up to 40%—are available to those who qualify. In an effort to be as responsive as possible to our students’ needs, our financial aid application includes questions designed to give our Scholarship Committee as complete a picture as possible of each applicant’s financial circumstances, beyond merely income figures. Eligibility is determined by an impartial scale, and aid is awarded based on students’ needs and monies available. Importantly, we strive to ensure that levels of aid awarded to you as an incoming student remain constant throughout the length of your Sunbridge studies.
Assistance comes in the form of:
- Sunbridge scholarship grants (need-based)
- Sunbridge Diversity Fund Scholarships (non-need-based)
- AWSNA loans and grants
- Funding from the Waldorf schools at which our students work
You are encouraged to talk to your Waldorf school to explore your options there.
SUNBRIDGE INSTITUTE SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Any student admitted to and enrolled in a Sunbridge Institute teacher education program (including our specialized intensives).
HOW DO I APPLY?
NEW STUDENTSÂ To apply for financial aid as a NEW student:
- Complete this online financial aid application.
- Â Awards are made on a rolling basis beginning in February. The earlier you submit your application, the more financial aid there will still be available. Although aid is not awarded until you are accepted into a program, an estimate of your potential award may be given earlier based on demonstrated need and potential availability of funds.
- Within two weeks of receiving your financial aid award, you will be contacted to have a phone conversation with our finance office. During this conversation, all details regarding Sunbridge tuition and financial aid will be discussed. (You may familiarize yourself with some of these details in advance by reading through the information below.)
RETURNINGÂ STUDENTSÂ To apply for financial aid as a RETURNING student:
- Complete this online financial aid application.
- Awards for already-matriculated Sunbridge students are made on a rolling basis beginning in February, as applications are received and processed. The earlier you submit your application, the more financial aid there will still be available.
- You must be in good standing—financially and academically—to be awarded aid. This includes being up-to-date on all your assignments and practica.
NOTE TO ALL STUDENTS: As a condition of receiving a Sunbridge scholarship, you agree to keep us apprised of your current work situation throughout the course of your studies, as well as during the years following graduation, as we are required to report this information to the granting foundations that support our scholarship fund.
IMPORTANT: The Sunbridge Scholarship Committee asks that each applicant for financial aid apply for an AWSNA loan, as it is expected that every available source of financial support is utilized. Failure to apply for an AWSNA loan may affect the amount of aid granted by the Committee.
DIVERSITY FUND SCHOLARSHIPS
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
To be considered for a Sunbridge Diversity Fund Scholarship, you must:
• Self-identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color
• Be accepted or already enrolled in a Sunbridge Early Childhood, Elementary, or High School Teacher Education diploma program (Full Track or Completion Track)
• Be currently working in, or intending to work in, an AWSNA- or WECAN-affiliated school.
HOW DO I APPLY?
To apply as a new student, complete an online application (available February 1-June 1).
The first round of awards is made in mid-March; additional awards are made on a rolling basis, based on availability of funds. The earlier you submit your application, the better.
Read more about diversity at Sunbridge.
AWSNA LOANS
Read about AWSNA loans and matching grants.
AWSNA Loans:
The AWSNA loan will be fully forgiven if any of the following conditions are met:
- Teach 3/4 or full-time in an AWSNA- or WECAN-member school for one full year after your Sunbridge graduation IF you also taught 3/4 to full-time for two consecutive years in an AWSNA- or WECAN-member school leading up to your Sunbridge graduation
- Teach 3/4 or full-time in an AWSNA- or WECAN-member school for two full, consecutive years after your Sunbridge graduation IF you also taught for one full year in an AWSNA- or WECAN-member school in the preceding year leading up to your Sunbridge graduation
- Teach 3/4 or full-time in an AWSNA- or WECAN-member school for three full, consecutive years immediately after your Sunbridge graduation
Because circumstances may change—necessitating repaying of the loan—you must be in a secure financial position to receive an AWSNA loan.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Anyone enrolled in a Sunbridge program who meets the above criteria.
How DO I APPLY?
- Complete the AWSNA Loan application.
AWSNA applications must be completed before loan allocations are made.
AWSNA GRANTS
WHO IS ELIGIBLEÂ TO APPLY?
- Currently practicing teachers in an AWSNA-affiliated school.
- The school MUST commit to paying a portion of the tuition for the student to be eligible.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- Complete the AWSNA Currently Practicing Teacher Grant application, and include a letter from the school that commits a specific amount towards your studies at Sunbridge Institute.
The letter from your school must be received before the award can be made. Grant amount depends on the amount of monies available, and may be lower than the school commitment.
VERMONT STUDENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
Students who live in Vermont may qualify for Non-Degree Grants from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. Please note that the VSAC academic year begins on July 1 of each year and runs through June 30. Students who begin their studies before July 1 are eligible to receive awards for the fall through the following summer intensive. Awards are granted for two intensives (per VSAC: “two enrollment terms”) per academic year .
THE MICHAEL FOUNDATION
The Michael Foundation is a private fund dedicated to supporting the education of Waldorf teachers. Applications must be received before February 1 in order to qualify for grants to be applied to the June 1- May 31 academic year.
PAYMENT PLANS
Sunbridge Institute offers extended financing options, with payment plans available for up to nine months post-graduation.
Please discuss this with our finance office during your initial conversation, if you are interested in learning more.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions about affording or paying for your Sunbridge education, please contact Christopher Costa at 845-425-0055 x 17 or [email protected].
All paper applications should be sent to:
Finance Office
Sunbridge Institute
285 Hungry Hollow Road
Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Please note: Sunbridge Institute is licensed by the New York State Department of Education, and our students are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.
Disclaimer: Sunbridge Institute does not endorse any scholarship aid services provided via the internet. Students are cautioned to research internet services that seek compensation for scholarship searches.
