About

Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic, college preparatory school for young women in grades 7-12. Founded in 1946, Ursuline Academy in Dedham operates under the sponsorship of the international network of Ursuline Sisters, the oldest religious teaching order devoted to the education of young women.

Admissions

Our Admissions team welcomes families for tours throughout the year, and we sponsor events designed for students to explore our campus, sit in on classes, and to get to know our community. Ours is a holistic approach to knowing each student as we review qualifications for admissions. Learn why families choose Ursuline, and how our graduates become young women of character, faith and scholarship!

ACADEMICS

Ursuline Academy offers a rigorous program of study designed to challenge and inspire students, and our faculty encourage their love of learning, reading, and scholarly exploration in the pursuit of truth. Our graduates are fully prepared to study, analyze, and communicate persuasively to meet the challenges of university work.

LIVING THE MISSION

The values of an Ursuline education– a Catholic education– were established centuries ago when Saint Angela Merici dedicated her life to forming a company of young women engaged in bettering their communities. At Ursuline, we challenge our students to live lives of integrity that reflect the principles of Catholic social teaching, and to be Christ to one another in today’s world. We welcome students of all faiths, and support every student on her spiritual journey.

Affording Ursuline

Our Commitment to Affordability

We recognize that as parents, you may have concerns about tuition cost, especially if you have more than one child, and the challenges of planning for college can make that reality even more daunting. Please be assured that here at Ursuline Academy, our philosophy is grounded in our Catholic mission, and we are committed to making an Ursuline education affordable for any young woman who is qualified and wishes to enroll. We also understand that each family's needs and circumstances are unique.

This year, we awarded over $1 million in tuition assistance for qualified candidates, and individual awards range from $2,000 to $25,000.

If you are concerned about tuition cost, please call Mrs. Cathy Solomon, Chief Enrollment Officer, so that we can discuss your needs. In addition, merit scholarships are available for the most competitive candidates, and those can be combined with tuition assistance to help make tuition affordable. We recognize that many parents sacrifice to provide a Catholic, private education for their daughter, and we welcome the opportunity to work with you individually to manage that cost.

To apply for tuition assistance, please submit the FACTS application by the priority deadline of January 15, 2024. You can begin the FACTS application here.

Merit Scholarships

Ursuline Academy offers a challenging academic program for high-achieving young women in our region, and each year a range of merit scholarships are awarded to the most qualified applicants. Applications for admission must be received by the January 15th deadline to be considered for a merit scholarship. Applicants will be considered automatically and are identified upon review of their admissions file which will focus on the academic profile, standardized testing and recommendations. Merit scholarships will be awarded at the time of acceptance.

Merit scholarships are reviewed annually and will be awarded at the same level provided that the student has been diligent in her studies, exhibits model school citizenship and a solid record of attendance.

Exceptional Value for the Price

An Ursuline Academy education equals value. Here at Ursuline, your daughter will benefit from a challenging honors curriculum that rivals other more costly schools, as realized in 100% matriculation to colleges and universities around the nation as well as an impressive list of scholarships and grants. To review our list of college acceptances, please click here.

More importantly, the breadth of co-curricular opportunities in the arts, athletics, leadership, and service exceeds that of other smaller, more expensive schools and helps to build the full student experience that is essential to character and leadership formation.

Families should also note that the actual cost of educating each student at Ursuline Academy exceeds the cost of tuition by $3,000. We are grateful for the support of the extended Ursuline family, including alumnae, benefactors, foundations and current parents, who help to support our Annual Fund each year to offset this cost, which in turn, keeps the tuition affordable.

2024-25 Tuition

$28,950

Additional nominal fees may apply. A schedule of fees can be found here .

Other costs: Approximate cost of books is $800/year and a new uniform is $200. Presently, all students are required to have an iPad; Ursuline is analyzing our students’ digital needs for the upcoming year.

Best of Both Worlds

Visitors sometimes ask why our tuition is so much lower than other independent schools. The answer is that it’s part of our mission, and we wish to support students from all walks of life who desire an Ursuline education and will most benefit from our offerings. Ursuline Academy offers a breadth of opportunities in academics and co-curriculars you would normally find at much larger schools - 20 AP classes, 14 electives in music, visual arts, computer science and more, 14 sports with 27 teams, 46 clubs and 6 performing arts ensembles. Ours is the best of both worlds - a small classroom experience where faculty really know their students, and the resources to support myriad student activities.

Further, even though our tuition is lower than some peer schools, we also recognize that the cost is a sacrifice for many families, so we offer both need and merit-based scholarships in order to make it more affordable. We encourage families who are concerned about cost to call us for a conversation about your family's individual circumstances.

"Ursuline’s value far exceeds the tuition it charges. With the academics, the athletic program, the drama and art opportunities, and the faith and character formation, it’s the full package. You could pay a lot more for all that Ursuline has to offer."

KIM P ‘21