Admission > Fees & Financial Assistance

Fees and Financial Assistance

Tuition and Fees
A student’s ability to pay tuition is not a factor in admissions decisions. The value of financial awards is determined after admissions decisions have been made. Fees charged to a given student will be based on a family’s financial means. Students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who are accepted to the Academy will receive large financial aid awards, while students from families with financial means will be expected to make significant contributions towards their student’s fees.

In the event that a student is assessed the full fee, the fees are $20,000 USD for students residing in Africa. African Leadership Academy fees are all-inclusive, including tuition, room, meals, examination fees, and uniforms. African Leadership Academy is competitively priced versus world's leading secondary schools. A student’s ability to pay tuition is not a factor in admissions decisions.


Financial Assistance
ALA has an extensive financial assistance program that seeks to enable every admitted student, regardless of background, to attend the Academy. A student’s ability to pay tuition is not a factor in admissions decisions.

All applicants who are selected as finalists will be given financial aid forms as a part of their finalist information package. Applying for financial assistance is strictly optional. Those students desiring to apply for financial aid must complete these forms and attach additional financial information including copies of any employment contracts of their parents/guardians. Financial assistance forms should be submitted with the finalist application.

The value of financial awards is determined after admissions decisions have been made. All financial award decisions will be made by a financial aid review panel that includes ALA staff, governors, and independent financial professionals.

FAQs
Who is eligible to apply for financial assistance?
Any applicant is eligible to apply for financial assistance if he/she is named a finalist for admission. Applying for financial assistance is strictly optional. African Leadership Academy will perform a detailed review of all applications for financial assistance. If the review panel determines that a student has demonstrated a need for financial assistance, African Leadership Academy will structure a financial package to make it possible for that student to attend the Academy.

How will African Leadership Academy assess financial need?
African Leadership Academy will perform a detailed review of each application for financial assistance, including copies of any employment contracts of the applicant’s parent/guardian. An ALA assessor will visit the home of each financial aid applicant and will interview references as a part of the financial need determination. Final decisions will be made by a financial aid review panel that includes ALA staff members, governors, and independent financial professionals.

Does African Leadership Academy give full scholarships?
African Leadership Academy seeks to enable every admitted student to attend. As such, admitted students with demonstrated financial need will receive very large financial assistance packages. However, there are no “full” scholarships at African Leadership Academy. All ALA students and their families will be expected to contribute something – even if it is $50 per year – toward the cost of their education. The amount contributed by each student and his/her family will be determined according to individual financial circumstances.

Who funds ALA scholarships?
African Leadership Academy scholarships are funded by African Leadership Academy supporters – including individuals, corporations, and foundations – across Africa and around the world. The African Leadership Academy scholarship fund seeks to make it possible for all admitted students to attend the Academy.

When will students receive notification of their financial awards?
All applicants for financial assistance will be notified of any financial award by 2 May 2008. All financial aid and scholarship decisions are made after admissions decisions have been made.

What if I am unhappy with the financial assistance determination?
African Leadership Academy offers each applicant for financial assistance a single opportunity to appeal their financial award. Students must submit a formal written letter appealing the financial assistance determination within 10 days of the notification of their financial award. This letter must include very clear reasons for appealing the financial determination. Details of the appeal process will be provided when financial awards are received.