Tuition Assistance Programs

Tuition Assistance Program

Thank you for your interest in the Stowe Mountain Bike Academy Programs.

The Stowe Mountain Bike Academy (SMBA) believes that opportunity provides the best path to success for youth athletes. It is our goal to provide high quality mountain bike instruction for any youth athlete and we offer several tuition assistance options to ensure our programs are accessible to all.

SMBA has partnered with the Vermont Mountain Bike Academy, a non-profit organization created by the founders of SMBA, to create financial assistance programs to ease the financial burden of participation in qualifying cycling programs and races in Vermont. Each of these funds have slightly different qualifications, deadlines and requirements.

General Tuition Assistance

The General Tuition Assistance Fund provides assistance based on an athlete’s financial need, commitment to SMBA’s programs and the availability of funds. This program includes:

Sliding Scale Tuition Assistance→
Flexible, No-Interest Payment Plans→

Competitive Athlete Fund

The Competitive Athlete Fund provides assistance to athletes ages 18 to 25 years old who are engaged in cycling competition.

Competitive Athletes Fund→

Competitive Athlete Fund

The Competitive Athlete Fund provides assistance to athletes ages 18 to 25 years old who are engaged in cycling competition.

The Competitive Athlete Fund awards are based on several factors which include the nature of the assistance requested, a review of the athlete’s goals for which the award will be applied, and a demonstration of an athlete’s commitment to SMBA’s mission and programs.

Please email info@stowemtb.com for more information.

Sliding Scale Tuition Assistance

Participation in the sliding scale tuition program is subject to participant eligibility and available funds. Depending on your household size and income, qualifying individuals may get scholarships of up to 100% of their registration fees for certain youth programs for up to a $1000 maximum per household per calendar year as long as funds are available.

Stowe Mountain Bike Academy uses the Vermont Department for Children and Families Child Care Financial Assistance Sliding Fee Scales as a guideline.

To determine eligibility, please reference the table below:

Sliding Scale Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Sliding Scale Tuition Program work?

  1. Please complete the Financial Assistance Application (See button below). All applicants must complete the form in its entirety to be considered for reduced program fees.

  2. All information entered in the google form will be kept strictly confidential. We use an honor system for completion of the application but hold the right to request your most recent tax return to substantiate income and deductions if the applicant is selected for a scholarship award.

  3. Application must be completed in full to be considered and received no later than 1 month prior to the start of the enrolling program. Please allow SMBA up to 14 business days to review your application. We will contact you with your scholarship award.

  4. To complete payment, create a Mindbody Account and Add family members - within your registration portal, add family members under My Info

  5. You’ll receive an award letter with a one-time discount code towards your selected program, Link a payment method - within your registration portal, enter a credit or debit card under My Info - use the discount code and register for the program.

  6. If you have any questions, please email us at info@stowemtb.com.

  • A household’s adjusted gross income and household size is used to help determine Sliding Scale Tuition discounts. Household size is defined as all children under the age of 19 at the end of the previous tax year, or under the age of 24 if a full-time student (per Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004), Parent/Guardian, Spouse/Partner of the Parent/Guardian, and anyone else that can legally be claimed on a federal tax return as a dependent per IRS publication 501.

  • The Sliding Tuition Scale is only applicable towards Youth Program Registration Fees including SMBA Progression Programs, Summer Camps, and Race Program registration fees. Private lessons, Guided Rides, Trail Passes or Race Registration Fees are not eligible for reduced rates.

  • If the awarded scholarship is less than a current discount promotion offered for the same registered program, the discounted price is offered and does not impact your household maximum calendar year award. Scholarships can not be applied cumulatively to a discounted rate. It is the responsibility of the applicant to be aware of current promotions at the time of registration as tuition or award refunds will not be offered retroactively.

    Sliding Scale Tuition rates may be combined with our payment plan subject to the terms listed under “Payment Plans.”

  • No. Registrations will not be amended to a reduced rate after registering. Fees will be charged based on your Sliding Scale status at the time of the registration.

  • The application discount is available for programs within the same calendar year. You will need to reapply each year.

  • Yes, enrollment expires every year on December 31st and a new application is required at that time.

  • No. The registration fee for SMBA programs is determined without earmarked scholarship contributions. The scholarship awards are subject to availability based on donations to the SMBA nonprofit scholarship foundation, The Vermont Cycling Foundation, and/or the Vermont Mountain Bike Academy. In an effort to help as many families as possible, we ask that participants stretch their budget as best as they can.

  • No, not at all. SMBA strives to provide a remarkably high-quality experience for all participants, and we make every effort to create an environment of true equality, eliminating the labels of “full-paying families” and “financial aid families.” Other than the administrators of the scholarship award program, a participant’s tuition payment status is confidential to all member of the SMBA staff and other program participants.

  • The Sliding Scale Tuition rate is typically confirmed within 14 business days, and as the start of camp or progression programs gets closer, the process can take as little as 1-2 business days!

  • If a family fills out the Sliding Scale Application for multiple children simultaneously, that factor will be taken into consideration during the initial review process and scholarship consideration. To date, no child has been turned away from SMBA programs due to a family’s inability to pay.

  • If such changes occur or a family receives a Sliding Scale Tuition rate that they do not feel is affordable, please reach out to us at info@stowemtb.com to discuss options.

Flexible, No-Interest Payment Plans

If paying tuition in full at the time of registration creates a burden for your family, please consider our flexible no-interest payment plan.

Payment plans require a $100 deposit and then a periodic payment of at least $25 until the balance is paid in full. SMBA will allocate the remaining balance to monthly payments not to exceed 6 months for camps, or 8 months for race programs, or beyond the program start date for progression programs.

Participants may enter several payment plans but all programs must be paid in full seven days prior to the program start date with the exception of the SMBA Race Program. Failure to pay can result in forfeiture of the participant’s enrollment and funds paid to date less a $25 administration fee will be returned.

Participants in the payment plan who cancel their enrollments are subject to the SMBA Cancellation policy.

How to apply for a payment plan?

  1. Create an account - Visit our website, www.stowemtb.com, and create an account under the Client Portal area (bottom left of the webpage)

  2. Add family members - within your registration portal, add family members under ‘My Info’

  3. Link a payment method - within your registration portal, enter a credit or debit card under My Info. Your credit card will be be charged until you follow Step 4.

  4. Contact Us - email info@stowemtb.com subject “payment plan” and let us know what programs you’d like to enroll (subject to availability) and we’ll contact you to set up your payment plan.