We at San Marcos Academy thank you for considering us for your child’s education. San Marcos Academy provides young men and women with a wholesome and nurturing environment where they can reach their full potential. San Marcos Academy is proud of its high standards for academic excellence and the success our students achieve while at the Academy and after graduation. The staff and faculty of San Marcos Academy will help to develop the growth of mind, body and spirit in your sons and daughters so they can focus on their educational pursuits and personal development. San Marcos Academy is proud to have been selected as one of the 30 Best Christian Boarding Schools in America. We also are one of only a handful of Texas schools that have maintained continuous accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (AdvancEd) for more than a century.
Get to Know Us
Our admissions team schedules several recruiting visits each semester in Texas and other locations. We invite you to join us at these sessions to learn more about San Marcos Academy.
We can also send a representative to visit with you personally at a location convenient to your home or office, anywhere in Texas!
Call our office at 512-753-8000 to schedule a visit with one of our representatives.
We are extremely proud of our campus and welcome visits at any time. A campus tour will allow you to come and check out the facilities, meet some of our faculty and staff and receive answers to any questions you may have.
Call 512-753-8000 to schedule an appointment at 9 a.m. or 2 p.m. weekdays.
If you would like us to send you an information packet about the Academy please fill out our Contact Form. Ensure that you indicate if you would like the information packet by email or regular mail and provide the appropriate addresses.
How to Apply
We accept applications throughout the year for boarding students in grades 6-12 and day students in grades K-12. Families are encouraged to use our handy online application portal.
If you prefer, you may print our application documents and submit them via regular mail, fax, or email. You can download the forms using the “Application Forms” link below.
Application Requirements
A completed application to San Marcos Academy consists of the following items:
Application for admission and report of medical history, completed and signed by the custodial parent.
A $150.00 non-refundable application fee. You can visit our payment portal here.
A school transcript of grades with achievement and/or I.Q. test results (if available) for Grade 6-12 applicants or a copy of the most recent report card for Grade K-5 applicants.
Two teacher evaluations from the school last attended for grade 6-12 applicants: one from the student’s English teacher and one from the student’s math or science teacher. For Grade 1-5 applicants, a recommendation from the current teacher is sufficient.
A personal interview & campus visit with the applicant and parent(s) is required for grade 6-12 applicants. (The interview may be waived or modified for out-of-state and international students.) For grade K-5 applicants, a parent interview is required. Please call our office at 512-753-8000 to schedule interviews and campus visits.
A copy of the student’s birth certificate. International students must also submit a copy of their passport.
Notification of Acceptance
When the application process is complete, the Admissions Committee will meet to consider the applicant. Parents will be notified of our decision, usually within one week. If the student is accepted, an agreement for admission will be sent along with a request for a deposit.
U.S. boarding students pay a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 while day students pay a non-refundable deposit of $100.00. International students must pay a deposit of $2500.00 in order for the Academy to issue an I-20 ($500 is non-refundable should the student fail to acquire a visa) All deposits are applied to the total program cost.
Deposits can be paid through our Smart Tuition portal.
Program Costs
What is the cost for my student to attend the Academy?
Our program costs differ depending on a student’s grade level and Day or Boarding status. The cost of each program, as well as what services are included in the cost, is listed on our Financial Information documents:
2018-2019 Financial Information (Day)
2018-2019 Financial Information (Boarding)
Are there any fees in addition to the basic program cost?
Yes, the cost for textbooks, school supplies, and uniforms are not included in the program fee. These items can be purchased at our Bookstore by cash, check, or credit card, usually at the time of registration. Additional fees for activities outside of the standard program vary from student to student and could include music instrument rental, College Dual-Credit Courses, and after-school care for Lower School students. The 2017-18 Fee Schedule provides a list of these additional fees.
The proposed 2018-19 Fee schedules can be viewed below:
2018-19 Day Student Fee Schedule
2018-19 Boarding Student Fee Schedule
Is there a discounted fee for those who pay in full?
If you will be paying in full prior to or at Registration, you will qualify for the “Pay In Full” program cost, which is a savings of five percent. If you are requesting a payment plan, the “Payment Plan” program cost will be applied to your account. Once you are accepted at the Academy, you will be asked which program fee you would like applied to your account. Please note that the Payment Plan program is not available to our International students (those with an F-1 Visa).
Are there other discounts my family might qualify for?
San Marcos Academy offers a $1,000 first responder or military discount. This discount will be applied to the student’s tuition for one year. SMA also offers a $1,000 (first-year) tuition discount to students who have a parent or parents employed by Texas State University. If more than one student enrolls from the same family, each student will receive these tuition discounts.
Is there a discount for families who enroll more than one child?
Yes, we offer a sibling discount at the Academy. Each child from the same family will receive a 5% discount on his or her program cost. To see our program costs with the sibling discount applied, please refer to our Sibling Discount Financial Information documents:
Sibling Discount Financial Information for Fall and Spring 2017-18
What type of payment plans are available?
We currently offer a monthly payment plan option with the first payment due in July and the final payment due in April. We also offer a semester plan with payments due in July and December.
How do I see my charges and receive my invoices?
The Academy uses Smart Tuition for management of invoicing and collections. After acceptance to the Academy, your Smart Tuition account will be created by the Business Office and a Smart Family ID will be assigned to you. All invoices and communications will be sent to you via e-mail.
For security reasons, you will need to contact Smart Tuition at 888-868-8828 for your account log in and password. With this information you can access your account at www.parent.smarttuition.com. Smart Tuition’s call center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Please see this Smart Tuition FAQ document for more details.
How can I make payments?
Smart Tuition can be used to set up your payments to the school. If this is not convenient, you can make payments directly to the Academy. We accept wire transfers as well as checks or cash at the Business Office. Please contact us if you need wire transfer information.
Can my students charge at the Bookstore?
After Registration, your student may occasionally need to purchase items at the Bookstore. We recommend that students have access to a debit or credit card. If this is not convenient, we will allow your student to charge to his or her student account. All bookstore charges will appear on your Smart Tuition invoice and are due upon invoice.
Are there any other discounts we might qualify for?
SMA offers a referral discount for families who assist in recruiting new students. Currently enrolled students will receive a tuition credit for a referral to the Academy ($500 for a day student referral and $1,000 for a boarding student referral, maximum of two per year). The credit will be awarded when a referred student 1) applies and is accepted to the Academy (2) identifies the referring family on the application itself and (3) enrolls at SMA. Children of SMA employees are exempt from this discount.
Does the Academy offer Financial Assistance?
Financial Aid is need-based tuition assistance. A family may apply for financial assistance once their child has been accepted to the Academy. Decisions regarding financial assistance are made by the Financial Aid Committee on the basis of a family’s demonstrated need and the availability of funds from the school. Because of our limited resources, financial assistance awards will generally cover only a small percentage of a student’s tuition.
Learn More
We encourage you to check out the rest of our website to learn more about San Marcos Academy and look forward to hearing from you.