About Our Courses
Our courses are intended for students 18 and older. Typically, no prior experience is required to participate. If a course has a prerequisite, it will be clearly outlined in the course description. We are always happy to talk with you to determine which course is the right fit for your goals and experience.
For our short-form (2 day-2 week) courses, we typically open registration at least 6 months in advance and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend registering at least 2-3 months in advance; although we will continue to accept registrations on a space-available basis until a class reaches its capacity. When there is space available, we can accept registrations up until the day before the class begins. Most classes have a maximum between 6 and 15 students.
Waitlist
If the class you hope to take is full, you can add your name to the waitlist and we will notify you when a space is available. There is no fee to add your name to the waitlist and there is no obligation to attend if you are accepted. We cannot predict if a space will become available and may not be able to respond to inquiries about your place in line (in the summer months, we get a lot and it's hard to keep up!). If a space becomes available in a course within a week of the start, we may email the entire waitlist and offer the seat on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment options
Securing your spot in a course requires putting down a 20% nonrefundable deposit towards tuition. Remaining payments are due 30 days prior to your class start date.
When registering you have the option to pay by credit card or e-check. E-check fees are considerably lower than card payments. Customers will be asked to cover their card and bank processing fees, and Yestermorrow will cover the registration fee from our registration platform, Active Network.
If you need further flexibility for making payments towards your balance, please contact us.
Cancellation Policy
Yestermorrow reserves the right to cancel classes due to inadequate enrollment or other circumstances beyond our control. In the event of a cancellation on our end, we will refund all payments - including deposits. Whenever possible, we make our cancellation call 20 days in advance.
Student Cancellation Policy
Deposits are always non-refundable. Refunds and credits for other payments depend on the timing of your cancellation:
30+ days before course starts
Deposits are not-refundable. After the deposit, any remaining payments you made for tuition or meals and lodging are refundable.
You may transfer your registration to another course one time. There is a fee of 5% of your tuition. Transfers must be made at the time of your cancellation request.
7-29 days before course starts
Deposits are not-refundable. After the deposit, any remaining payments you made for tuition will be held as credit. Meals and lodging are refundable.
You may transfer your registration to another course one time. There is a fee of 10% of your tuition. Transfers must be made at the time of your cancellation request.
0-7 days before course starts
No refunds, nor transfers this close to the start date of a course.
Financial Aid
Sliding Scale Tuition
As a continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Yestermorrow offers a 5 tier sliding scale for tuition. The sliding scale is a tool that allows students to personally assess their ability to contribute and select the price point of tuition that will allow them to access our programs. Our programs are designed for both professional and personal development and we feel strongly that investing in yourself should be accessible to all, regardless of income level. The implementation of a sliding scale is part of our commitment to economic justice and continued equity within education.
Students may select from the first two reduced tuition tiers, pay the middle tier level which reflects the true cost of the course, or select from the fourth and fifth tiers to pay it forward to another student. Paying according to one’s resources creates a more equitable, diverse and sustainable community.
Certificate applications are not eligible for the sliding scale. Please fill out the scholarship application for financial assistance for Certificate programs.
Consider paying less if one or more of these apply to you:
- are receiving public assistance
- are supporting dependents
- have significant debt –medical, education, etc
- have immigration related expenses
- are on a fixed income
Consider paying more if one or more of these apply to you:
- own your own home
- have generational wealth, property, or investments (for example contributing to a 401K)
- have a high degree of earning power due to education, race, or gender privileges
- travel recreationally
Tuition Assistance - Tier 1
- Paying for this course presents a significant financial hardship. Tier 1 is 75% of the full tuition.
Tuition Assistance - Tier 2
- Paying full price for this course presents somewhat of a financial hardship. Tier 2 is 85% of the full tuition.
Full tuition - Tier 3
- Paying this price may be a sacrifice, but I can find the resources to do so.
Your tuition & help another - Tier 4
- Paying for this course does not present a significant financial sacrifice. I have the ability to redistribute resources and increase access for others (115% of full tuition price).
Your tuition & help another - Tier 5
- Paying for this course does not present any financial sacrifice. I have the ability to redistribute resources and increase access for others (125% of full tuition price).
To determine your place on the scale, we encourage people to honestly assess their resources and consider the difference between a sacrifice and a hardship. If attending the course would be difficult, but not detrimental, that qualifies as a sacrifice. You may have to cut back on spending in other areas to prioritize your participation in the course. If attending the course would be detrimental to your financial health and affect your ability to meet basic needs, that is considered a hardship. A sliding scale requires honest and thoughtful consideration of the complexities of income, wealth, class, race, and other forms of inequity that affect an individual’s ability to pay. We do not require income verification for our sliding scale. We trust participants to choose a payment amount that reflects both their means and their desire to support others.
Thank you to the following organizations who helped us shape and articulate our policy:
Scholarships
Yestermorrow offers several scholarship opportunities. Our General Scholarship fund is intended for those who would not otherwise afford to attend Yestermorrow. We offer scholarships specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and Women. Scholarships are only awarded for certificate programs. All short form programs have a sliding scale tuition model. When possible, we offer scholarships for select short-form courses via grants. These opportunities are noted on our list of current courses.
Other Financial Aid Resources
AmeriCorps Segal Awards
As of 5/4, AmeriCorps award processing is temporarily paused, but we anticipate resuming within the next six weeks. Please proceed with registration; if we are unable to process your award before your course begins, your deposit will be fully refunded. To receive updates, please fill out this form.
529 College Savings Plans
As of 5/4, 529 Plan processing through a Title IV institution is temporarily paused, but we anticipate resuming within the next six weeks. Please proceed with registration; if we are unable to process your award before your course begins, your deposit will be fully refunded. Your plan may allow you to pay us directly, in which case you may proceed with registration and send us a check from your plan.
To receive updates, please fill out this form.
Standby for Locals
Residents of Washington County are eligible for our Standby for Locals Program. By adding your name to the standby list for a course, you may be eligible for 50% off tuition. Exclusions apply.
AIA Learning Units
Yestermorrow is a Continuing Education Systems Registered Provider through the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Our AIA/CES courses are specifically designed for current and future design professionals. Architecture students are eligible for 0.15 IDP units per Learning Unit. Courses offered with CEUs are listed on our website.
Continuing Education Units
Continuing education units are available for all Yestermorrow programs through Sterling College at the rate of 1 CEU per 15 contact hours. Sterling College charges a $130/CEU fee. The fee is charged to the student in addition to Yestermorrow tuition.
College Credits
Participants can earn 15 college credits in the Semester in Design/Build offered in partnership with UMass Amherst’s Architecture + Design Program. Participants may also earn 6 college credits in the Collaborative Design/Build Intensive.