Tuition and Financial Aid
Youth Orchestras of San Antonio provides world-class orchestra experience to students from across the San Antonio region. Tuition varies program to program based on the amount of instruction, rehearsal, and performance time provided. We make our programs accessible to all students, regardless of their financial background. Need-based financial assistance is available for all YOSA programs. To apply for financial aid, families must complete the Financial Aid Application through their YOSA Portal account and provide a form of income documentation by May 19, 2025.
2025/26 Season Tuition Rates
String Orchestras
YOSA Prelude Strings: $725 / $80 monthly
YOSA Capriccio Strings: $775 / $86 monthly
YOSA Sinfonietta Strings: $815 / $91 monthly
YOSA Intermezzo Strings: $835 / $94 monthly
YOSA Repertory Strings: $845 / $95 monthly
YOSA Concertino Strings: $855 / $96 monthly
Specialty Orchestras
YOSA Flute Choir: $745 / $82 monthly
YOSA Mariachi: $795 / $89 monthly
Advanced Orchestras
YOSA Wind Ensemble: $890 / $100 monthly
YOSA Symphony: $890 / $100 monthly
YOSA Philharmonic: $960 / $110 monthly
2025 Summer Symphony Camp
All Camp Sessions: $448 / $50 deposit to enroll
All monthly season rates are after a $125 deposit, and include additional processing fees.
Please click the dropdowns below for some frequently asked questions regarding YOSA season tuition.
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Tuition Deposit
All students must pay a non-refundable tuition deposit of $125, due July 15, 2025. This deposit secures their spot in YOSA for the 2025/26 Season.
Full Tuition Due DateTuition is due in full on Friday, August 9, 2025.
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YOSA is happy to offer multiple payment options for season tuition. Families can opt into payment plans in the YOSA Portal when signing up their musician for either season or camp.
2025/26 Season Option 1: Two Payments
YOSA offers a payment plan to pay 50% of tuition in August 2025 and the remaining amount in January 2026.
2025/26 Season Option 2: Eight Payments
YOSA offers an 8 month payment plan from September 2025 to April 2026 for a fee of $40 for the year (or $5 per month), which will be applied to your monthly amount.2025 Summer Symphony Camp
All camp sessions require a $50 deposit to enroll. Families can choose autopay to charge the remaining balance on June 1, 2025, or make manual payments anytime until June 15, 2026, when full payment is due. -
YOSA is a school-year program and Members are expected to commit to the full season. If, for any reason, a musician is unable to continue, the tuition refund schedule is as follows.
If a musician withdraws:
Before August 9, 2025: full refund minus non-refundable deposit.
Between August 9 and September 20, 2025: full refund minus non-refundable deposit fee and $100 administrative fee.
Between September 20, 2025 and January 13, 2026: 50% refund minus the non-refundable deposit and $100 administrative fee.
After January 13, 2026: No refunds will be given to any student.
If your musician needs to leave the orchestra before the end of the school year, please contact us at registration@yosa.org.
Financial Aid
YOSA is committed to making our activities accessible for families, regardless of financial constraints. There is no fee to audition for YOSA Orchestras. Financial aid is offered at the beginning of each season based on a family’s income, household size, and other family or financial circumstances. Families can expect strict confidentiality regarding their assistance application and results. Every effort will be made to meet the needs of young musicians and their families.
To apply for financial aid, families must complete the Financial Aid Application through their YOSA Portal account and provide one of the following forms of income documentation by May 19, 2025:
1040 Tax Form (Most Recent Year)
Submit your IRS 1040 form. We use Line 11 to determine total income.H1028 Form Employment Verification
Completed and signed by an employer to confirm your household income.Federal Assistance Award Letter
A letter (physical or digital) confirming eligibility for programs such as WIC, SNAP, or similar. The letter must clearly state household income.
If you have questions about the application or documentation or need to verify your income in a different way, please don’t hesitate to reach out at registration@yosa.org or call our offices at (210) 737-0097. YOSA is here to support your family.
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Click here to log into your account and apply using the form “Financial Aid Application [optional]. Each musician must have their own application for documentation purposes.
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Who qualifies for Aid?
YOSA awards financial aid based on individual family circumstances. Many families qualify for aid, and there is no maximum income that disqualifies a family.
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YOSA will email you your financial aid decision at the same time you learn about your YOSA Season Placement. You will be given a Promotional Discount Code to use to apply the aid to your account as you are enrolling for the season.
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YOSA requires documentation of your family’s income to determine aid awards based on need. YOSA must have legal documentation of proof of income for our records.
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YOSA uses household size, annual income, and special circumstances to determine awarded aid based on need. If your family is experiencing a special circumstance, please indicate in your application so that YOSA can consider it during application processing.
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YOSA can use an H1028 Employment Verification Form or a Federal Assistance Award Letter from WIC, SNAP, or something similar to verify income. There are other options available as well, by calling the YOSA office or emailing registration@yosa.org.
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Special circumstances can vary widely, as each family's situation is unique. Generally, they include unexpected or significant life changes that impact a family's financial situation. Examples may include job loss or reduction in income, military deployment, high medical expenses not covered by insurance, or taking on significant caregiving responsibilities for a relative with medical or special needs.