Fees, Cost & Scholarships for Boarding Students
The Value of Boarding School
We believe that boarding school is an investment – shaping character and teaching work-habits, lessons and practices that are invaluable in later life. It’s no exaggeration to say that kids that go to boarding school are much better prepared for the rigours of university education and independent living - a fact to which many of our graduates attest.
I can honestly say that I would not be the person I am today if it was not for my journey at St. Michaels University School. This school, and its boarding system, shaped me into the mature, organized, well-rounded individual I am today. I started boarding in grade 8 and it was an amazing experience. During my time as a boarder I made friendships that will last a lifetime and the experience as a whole brought me a level of maturity that allowed me to thrive in University.
This was backed up by a wide ranging survey by The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), which found (among other things - see the full TABS report) that:
- 87% of boarding graduates said they felt prepared academically for higher education compared to 71% at day private schools and 39% of public school students.
- And on the non-academic side, 78% of boarding graduates said they felt better prepared for the social aspects of university compared to 36% of day private students and just 23% of public school students.
Many of our families recognize that a boarding education is so valuable to academic success, higher learning and life that they will make financial adjustments. This is especially true when strong students find high-quality education lacking in their hometowns.
I chose boarding school for the experience. I come from a really small town and the school there is really small, and SMUS has given me the experience of university – coming to a big school, and living here, away from home.
Who goes to Boarding School?
Boarding schools are not exclusive to the super-rich; many students at SMUS are on financial assistance or have been awarded one of our boarding scholarships. Last year, more than 20% of the student body received financial assistance.
In fact many of our families have an annual household income of less than $100,000.
Not Sure? Let’s Talk...
If you are interested in boarding school, we encourage you to contact us to talk about the financial assistance and scholarship opportunities on offer.
More information about fees, scholarships and financial assistance:
St. Michaels University School strives to provide students with an enriched education, including many extracurricular activities. We are equally committed to maintaining accessibility as well as welcoming an exceptional and diverse student body. Our fees cover tuition, textbooks and transportation costs for our clubs and teams.
The cost of a SMUS education varies by the location of the primary residence, as do the options for paying your fees. For more information on important financial dates, see below. For more detailed information on options for BC and North American students, see the Payment Options section.
Boarding Fees (2019-2020)
| BC Boarding Students | $52,590 |
| North American Boarding Students | $57,950 |
| International Boarding Students | $68,810 |
| ELL Students | $80,670 |
What Fees Cover
Tuition fees are paid yearly and cover 10 months of instruction, textbooks and transportation costs for SMUS athletic teams, music groups and other clubs. Boarding fees also include accommodation and care in residence, meals, laundry, use of the Health Centre and 24-hour nursing.
Tuition Refund Plan
We do not offer fee options for attending SMUS for only a portion of year (except for exchange programs). The implication is that fees are non-refundable if you leave SMUS for any reason. This policy assures our revenue for a year so we can set and stick to our budget. To safeguard your family’s investment in SMUS, we offer a tuition refund plan that will protect you in a number of situations.
Sibling Discount
All categories of fees are eligible for a 5% discount off tuition for each additional child that attends SMUS when you have one child already registered for the same year.
Our sibling discount appeal: if you are comfortable meeting the financial obligations of tuition without the 5% sibling discount, SMUS asks you to consider donating that 5% to our annual fund in exchange for a tax receipt (in Canada, the US and Britain) to support our campaign to build our endowment and make SMUS more affordable for all families.
The Senior School viewbook provides an overview of the SMUS experience.