Income-Adjusted Pricing

Preface

I want to ensure that the cost of my tutoring services are affordable for everyone, including myself. For this reason, I provide income-adjusted pricing heavily based on gross household income and other socioeconomic considerations. I ask that students who come from higher income families be mindful that the reduced rates I offer, particularly those for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, are intended to provide equitable access to my services. Please do not try to take advantage of this system!

Two methods can be used to determine your income-adjusted pricing. I use the Student Aid Index (SAI, formerly called EFC) created by FAFSA to catagorize college students into Disadvantaged, Median, Above Median, and Well Above Median Income. In addition, I use household gross income for students who cannot apply for FAFSA, or who are considered Very Low or Extremely Low Income. The corresponding estimation tools are available at the bottom of this page. Please know that these tools only estimate the cost of your service, but your price ultimately depends on your proof of income, i.e. SAI or gross income as reported to the IRS. Detailed instructions on qualifying for reduced tutoring rates are available here.

Standard Pricing

I have set my pricing to roughly align with the median household income. This means that most students will be charged the lowest standard rate for my services corresponding to SAI Tier I. Those who come from families with household incomes above the median (SAI Tier II) will pay slightly more, and those whose household income is well above the median (SAI Tier ≥ III) will pay the highest rate.

Proving your eligibility is a simple matter of submitting your FAFSA application. After submission, you will receive a report which has your estimated SAI which will be used to set your service price. Anyone who is thinking of attending college and meets the eligibility requirements can submit a FAFSA application, even if you believe your family's income is too high to qualify for the Pell Grant. For those who are ineligible or do not want to apply for FAFSA, gross household income can be used instead.

In the case that neither SAR, nor gross household income are available to estabilsh a student's income classification, no rate reduction will be offered except under special circumstances. If you cannot provide this information and believe you would otherwise qualify for a discounted rate, please contact me.

Disadvantaged Eligibility

FAFSA Low-Income Qualification (SAR)

Students who complete their FAFSA and qualify for the full Federal Pell Grant automatically qualify for my Low-Income tutoring rate. Simply provide me with a screenshot of your financial aid package from your university scholarships page, or one of your Student Aid Report (SAR) with your SAI so that I can confirm your low-income status. Please DO NOT include any sensitive information in the screenshot other than your full name. If you have not submitted your FAFSA application for the current academic school year, please visit the FAFSA website. If you want to check your eligibility for the Pell Grant, please check out the Federal Student Aid Estimator on their official website.

Please note that an estimate of your financial aid does not qualify you for the low-income rate. You must still provide official proof of receiving the full Federal Pell Grant.

Student Aid Index Classification

This tool will provide a good estimate of your family's socio-economic class and an estimate of the hourly tutoring rate I will charge you based on your student aid index. I do offer flexibility in pricing based on other socio-economic factors.

HUD Low-Income Qualification (Gross Income)

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides more detailed classifications of low-income households, categorizing families as Low, Very Low, and Extremely Low Income. To address the education inequality in these households I provide even lower tutoring rates. Below you will find a location-based calculator to determine your household income level and adjusted tutoring rate. Note that qualifying for the full Federal Pell Grant is equivalent to the low-income definition provided by HUD.

As with the FAFSA qualification, you will be required to provide proof of low-income status. At this time, I will only accept a copy of your submitted Form 1040 as proof of low-income status. this is the only way I can currently confirm your gross household income. I will provide detailed instructions on how to remove sensitive information from this document before sending it to me.

Gross Income Classification

This tool will provide a good estimate of your family's socio-economic class and an estimate of the hourly tutoring rate I will charge you based on your gross household income. I do offer flexibility in pricing based on other socio-economic factors.