Since 1890, University School has inspired boys of promise to become young men of character who lead and serve. Across two campuses in Northeast Ohio, students are free to explore, create, compete, and forge their own path in an environment where each boy can thrive.

With $9.4 million in financial aid awarded annually and about 50% of families participating, University School's commitment to access is foundational. But that commitment depends on accurate, equitable decisions about how those dollars are allocated.

Accurate Financial Information Without the Manual Chase

"We process about 500 applications and our previous platform had us reaching out to every family manually to  get documentation," shared Christina Townsend Hartz, Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid at University School. 

“Clarity has saved me so much time not having to ask families to upload things, and it has saved our families time not having to dig back into their taxes from two years ago or find an 1120 that I need them to send me."

"We surveyed our parents about their pain points prior to moving to Clarity,” said Townsend Hartz. 

“Before we even sent a follow-up survey, families were reaching out to us about how grateful they were for the change.”

“The ease, the responsive customer service, not having us email every five minutes asking them to upload something different. There's just no comparison.”

How Better Data Leads to More Equitable Awards

With complete financial information available from the start, award decisions became more equitable and transparent. "What our team values most is the thoroughness of the information,” said Townsend Hartz.

"The transcripts we get from Clarity have really been a game changer. They help us make decisions that are more equitable.”

“With Clarity there's no secret, there isn't a hidden sauce. It's all just data. Some platforms aren't that transparent, and you're left wondering how they come up with their numbers."

That transparency also allowed the financial aid committee to align methodology with the school's values. "What makes sense for us as a school? What do we believe about elder care? What do we believe about child care? Because it's part of what the committee can see when we're looking at each individual file, it's hugely helpful."

Revenue Growth Through Right-Sized Awarding

The financial impact has been significant for University School. 

“People often see financial aid as giving families money. The net revenue model shifts that thinking entirely," Townsend Hartz explained. "It's less about ‘what's your financial aid budget?’ and more about ‘how will you allocate awards to get the revenue you need in each grade?’”

"Clarity allowed us to right-size our financial aid budget, and our revenue has gone up every year as a result. We're allocating to families more appropriately, and from a revenue standpoint, that's been significant."

The platform also streamlined how University School tracks revenue. "We use Clarity to determine eligibility, look at taxes, and issue equitable need-based awards, but also to see how much revenue we're bringing in," Townsend Hartz explained. "In the past, that was an 8,000-tab spreadsheet where you're putting numbers in different places trying to make everything add up. Now it's all right in Clarity."

Support That Sets the Standard

The partnership with Clarity has redefined expectations for customer service.

"For those of us who have worked with other platforms, Clarity is like a breath of fresh air. It's a whole different way of working with a partner.”

"There is literally no other platform we work with that compares. I don't have to go online, fill out a ticket and wait five days to get an answer. If I have a question, I email and get an answer within 24 hours. It's not just a quick response either, it's a thorough one," Townsend Hartz shared.

"The people that work at Clarity work with a school lens on. They are putting the needs of schools first and foremost, and the difference that makes it astounding.”

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