Any family (current or new) of a kindergarten through 12th grade student may apply for a grant, regardless of income level. Many factors are considered when determining variable tuition grants, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThrou<\/span>gh the variable tuition application process, <\/span>a family\u2019s financial information is securely<\/span> collected online by FACTS, a widely used grant aid processor similar to the FAFSA process for<\/span> college grants. From this, we receive an Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) that we use to award<\/span> a grant. For example, a family with three students may have a total of $22,000 in tuition. However,<\/span> FACTS may calculate their EFC to be $9,000. It is this $9000 EFC target that we will ask a family to<\/span> contribute toward their children\u2019s education if we have sufficient resources available to us.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Is there a cost to apply for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
Yes. The fee to apply for a variable tuition grant is $35 per household.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>When should I apply for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
A student must first apply and be admitted to a Catholic Community School before being eligible<\/span> for a variable tuition grant, although a variable tuition grant application may be submitted at the<\/span> same time as the enrollment application.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>When is the deadline to apply for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
Variable tuition grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will be given to<\/span> those who apply early, although variable tuition grants are awarded year-round. There is no<\/span> deadline.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Should every family apply for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
No. Families who have comfortable means to cover the regular tuition rate should do so. Any<\/span> family who feels the regular tuition rate creates undue financial burden are encouraged to apply<\/span> for a variable tuition grant. We leave the decision to apply for a variable tuition grant up to each<\/span> family.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Do I need to apply for a variable tuition grant every year?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
No. If you received a variable tuition grant this year, you can expect to receive a variable tuition<\/span> grant next year. However, if the grant awarded is not sufficient, you will need to re-apply to see if<\/span> you qualify for an increased grant award.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Who sees my application?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
We use FACTS, an online, third-party, confidential, and secure application portal, to collect<\/span> information and determine grant awards. Once you have entered your information and it has been<\/span> received and processed, a grant award is recommended to the tuition team at the Catholic<\/span> Community Schools office where it is handled with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>After I submit a variable tuition grant application, when will I receive a final decision?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
We do not award variable tuition grants until after our confidential third-party processor has<\/span> confirmed that they have received all required documentation from you and completed their<\/span> evaluation process. Families who have completed the variable tuition grant application and<\/span> submitted all required documentation by February 15, 2023 should receive notification on the<\/span> grant award decision by March 15, 2023. Families who have completed the variable tuition grant<\/span> application and submitted all required documentation by March 1, 2023 should receive<\/span> notification on the grant award decision by April 1, 2023. After this, variable tuition grant<\/span> decisions will be made on a rolling basis, typically within 20 business days from the date all<\/span> information has been submitted.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>If I do not qualify for a variable tuition grant this year, can I apply again next year?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
Yes. We recognize that a family\u2019s circumstances, or our ability to award more variable tuition<\/span> grants, may change.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Do returning students receive priority over new students for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
Yes. We want an education within Catholic Community Schools to remain accessible to as many<\/span> families as possible. Thus, we welcome applications from new families. However, current families<\/span> who apply will receive priority consideration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Do I need to apply for admission separately from applying for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
Yes. An application for enrollment should be submitted prior to or simultaneously with applying<\/span> for a variable tuition grant. However, an admissions decision will always be made first and<\/span> separately from a variable tuition grant.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Will applying for a variable tuition grant impact my student\u2019s chance of being admitted?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
No. Admission applications and variable tuition grant applications are evaluated separately. We<\/span> do not base our admissions decision on whether a family is applying for a variable tuition grant.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>What kind of economic situation is typical of a family who qualifies for a variable tuition grant?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
It\u2019s difficult to define \u201ctypical\u201d. A wide range of families with a variety of circumstances qualify for<\/span> variable tuition grants, from those who can pay close to the regular tuition rate to those who are<\/span> able to pay a smaller percentage of the regular tuition rate. Our third-party processor evaluates<\/span> income, assets, unusual expenses (i.e. caring for an extended family member or medical expenses),<\/span> the size of the family, and a variety of other factors. The reason we utilize a third-party processor<\/span> in the evaluation process is because we want them to conduct an objective evaluation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Are some families granted free tuition?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
No. We believe every family must make a financial investment in their child\u2019s education. Our commitment to providing a variable tuition grant means that we are further sharing that investment with you.\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Are all admitted students offered a variable tuition grant if the family qualifies?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]
\u00a0<\/b>Yes. It is recommended that families who would like a variable tuition grant apply as early as<\/span> possible, however, as we may not have the ability to meet the full needs of every family depending<\/span> on our resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text]<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/i><\/i><\/div><\/div>Where do variable tuition grants come from?<\/h3><\/div>[vc_column_text]Variable tuition grants are funded by generous donors who are grateful for Catholic education and<\/span> wish to make it affordable and accessible to all. The majority of variable tuition grant funding for<\/span> CCS elementary school students comes from named scholarship funds through The Catholic<\/span> Foundation for the Diocese of St. Cloud. The majority of variable tuition grant funding for<\/span> Cathedral Middle and High School comes from named scholarship funds through The Cathedral<\/span> Education Foundation. Additionally, parishioners in the St. Cloud area Catholic parishes<\/span> contribute a percentage of their weekly gifts to our schools to help families attend our school.<\/span>