Tuition

We believe finances shouldn't be a barrier to self-directed education. Among Philadelphia's self-directed learning programs, our tuition is among the most affordable, and families who can't contribute at the sustaining level don't have to.

Philly ALC uses a sliding-scale, pay-what-you-can model. Think of it not as a fee for services, but as a shared investment in a community of learning.

There's no income verification and no approval process. When deciding on your contribution, reflect on a few things:

• After housing, food, transportation, and healthcare, what can your family sustainably contribute each month?

• How many children are you enrolling, and how many days per week?

• Does your family have access to higher income, savings, or generational wealth, or are you stretching to make this possible?

• If money is tight, can you contribute more time or skills? If time is limited, can you give more financially to support others?

A good contribution feels like a stretch, but a sustainable one. Fair to your family and fair to the community.

Money isn't the only way to participate. Families also contribute by volunteering with programming, helping with admin or outreach, and sharing skills and resources. Time and financial contributions are equally valued here.

The sustaining cost for full-time enrollment is $12,000 a year, or about $300 a week. Part-time options are available from one to four days a week, prorated accordingly. Use the calculator below to find a contribution that works for your family. If the numbers don't feel right, get in touch and we'll figure it out together.