Financial Aid
Financial Aid for the 2025-2026 school year
Financial Aid applies to individual lessons, semi-private lessons, and classes.
ALL ensembles are free for Springfield residents and included in private lesson tuition for all students.
To be considered for aid in the 2025-2026 school year, new applicants must complete both steps of the financial aid process:
- Fill out an online application. Currently enrolled CMSS students, opens in a new windowclick here to start. New students, opens in a new windowclick here to start.
- Submit supplemental financial documentation (EBT card or 2024 tax form 1040). We suggest you email a clear photo or a scanned file of your documentation to info@communitymusicschool.comcreate new email. BLACK OUT SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BEFORE SUBMITTING. All financial information will be kept secure and confidential.
Please note that your 2025-2026 application is not complete until your supplemental financial documentation (2024 1040 tax form or EBT Card) has been submitted.
Eligibility:
All students (including adults) receiving SNAP benefits may apply for a financial aid discount of 30%-40% off lessons & classes by following the instructions above.
Families with a household income UNDER the maximum household income for their household/family size (below) are eligible for financial aid for lessons and classes at CMSS (up to 56% off, depending on household income). If you are not eligible based on this chart but are experiencing additional financial hardships that affect your ability to afford lessons, please share this information with us for consideration.
| | ||
| 2025-2026 Max Income for CMSS Financial Assistance | ||
| Household/ Family Size | Household Income | |
| 1 | $62,600 | |
| 2 | $84,600 | |
| 3 | $106,600 | |
| 4 | $128,600 | |
| 5 | $150,600 | |
| 6 | $172,600 | |
| 7 | $194,600 | |
| 8 | $216,600 | |
| 9 | $238,600 | |
| 10 | $260,600 | |
| 11 | $282,600 | |
| 12 | $304,600 | |
| 13 | $326,600 | |
| 14 | $348,600 | |
Important Information for Financial Aid Applicants
Financial aid is awarded based on financial need and availability of funds. Funds are limited and applying for financial aid does not guarantee that it will be awarded. A complete application form and financial documentation (tax form or EBT card) must be submitted to CMSS to be eligible for consideration.
Because funding is limited, priority for financial aid is given to current CMSS students. Financial aid for new students, if available, will be granted to qualifying families who complete their application on a rolling basis.
Students who have made less than satisfactory progress according to teacher evaluation, not registered on time, not submitted their financial aid application on time, and/or not paid any owed balance by prescribed deadlines may be placed on probation or denied financial aid funding outright. Funding for subsequent semesters during the year will be contingent upon the student’s ability to meet CMSS standards of good attendance, progress and practice, adherence to CMSS policies and procedures, and availability of funds.
Financial aid awards are given as a specific dollar amount and are valid for the full academic year. Financial aid recipients may receive funding for private lessons on one instrument/voice, class, or ensemble. Families with more than one child may receive financial aid funding for up to two children.
Notification of awards will be emailed, along with a link to accept the award via an online form. If financial aid is granted, the applicant must accept the financial aid award via an online form, complete the CMSS registration process online, follow up with the registration team to schedule lessons, and make a deposit in order to fully register and accept the financial aid award.
How do I register for lessons for the upcoming school year?
Students who would like to reserve a preferred time slot with their instructor may register early (in the spring) and make a deposit, which is the first of ten monthly payments (calculated to include the financial aid award). The remainder of the tuition will be divided into 9 monthly bills dated from September to May.
Card to Culture
We are proud to participate in the opens in a new windowCard to Culture program, a collaboration between opens in a new windowMass Cultural Council and the opens in a new windowDepartment of Transitional Assistance, opens in a new windowMassachusetts Health Connector, and opens in a new windowWomen, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program, by breaking down the financial barriers to cultural programming. All students/families with an EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card are eligible to participate in any ensemble for free, and receive a 50% discount on any group music class.
Click here to learn more about CMSS’ Card to Culture offerings.
See the full list of participating organizations offering opens in a new window EBT, opens in a new windowWIC, and opens in a new windowConnectorCare discounts.