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FIT: Family Individualized Tuition

Family Individualized Tuition Information

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools is committed to welcoming all families who wish to make the investment in Catholic education for their children. To make the investment in Catholic education affordable for as many families as possible, we are pleased to offer an individualized approach to affording Catholic Education - Family Individualized Tuition.

 

Through our FIT program, your student's tuition rate and your family's capital fee is determined by several factors, including your family's demonstrated need. We partner with FACTS, an independent third party, to assist with need determinations. Students in grades PK - 12 are eligible to be considered for FIT.

 

Ready to apply for FIT? Click the link below, or scroll down for more information.

A Customized Tuition Solution FIT for Your Family

FACTS Need Determination

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To be considered for FIT, submit an application for your family through FACTS' Grant & Aid software, along with any requested documentation and the $35 non-refundable fee. If there are circumstances that have recently changed or you wish to explain in further detail, FACTS provides a comment section for you, as well as a section to upload optional documentation.

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Once your family's application is submitted in full, FACTS will process it to determine need and will then send it to us for review. From the time your application and all requested documentation is submitted, it takes an average of 2-4 weeks to receive a response.

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FIT Need Appeals

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If circumstances change after your FIT determination has been sent to you and you wish to have your need reconsidered, please refer to your determination email for information on FIT appeals.

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NCSEAA Scholarship

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) offers an income-based scholarship of up to $6,492 per school year to recipients.

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For students with certain disabilities, NCSEAA's ESA+ scholarship may be a great fit. ESA+ awards vary from $9,000 - $17,000 per school year and do not consider income.

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We recommend new families interested in NCSEAA scholarships to apply before March 1. To review requirements and to apply, please visit https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/.

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Tuition Adjustments for Catholic Families

For families who are designated Participating Catholic by their Diocese of Charlotte Catholic parish, additional tuition adjustments are available:

 

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  • Multiple Child Discount - applied to the youngest siblings in birth order:

    • 2nd child - 10% discount

    • 3rd child - 25% discount

    • 4th child - 50% discount

Example FIT Scenarios

Because each family has unique circumstances and many factors influence a family's need, FIT determinations will vary by family. These scenarios are based on actual families and 2022-23 tuition rates.

  • What is the Opportunity Scholarship?
    The Opportunity Scholarship is program that helps families pay for tuition & certain fees at approved non-public schools. All schools in the Diocese of Charlotte are approved. Applications and awards are handled through the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).
  • How much is the award and how do I apply?
    Awards are based on your family’s Tier, which is based on income and household size. Awards for the 2024-25 school year will range from $3,340 to $7,468. To view Tier and Award information, click here (links to https://www.ncseaa.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1171/2020/10/HHIncomeEligibilityGuidelines.pdf) To apply, visit ncseaa.edu
  • What are the requirements to apply?
    Families are required to reside in North Carolina and students must be entering grades K-12 to be eligible. No documents are needed during the application process, but tax transcripts and proof of residency may be requested by NCSEAA prior to finalizing awards.
  • Are all families guaranteed to receive an award?
    The funds allocated in the North Carolina budget for the Opportunity Scholarship are limited for the 2024-25 school year, therefore it is possible that the number of applicants will exceed the amount of funding available. Awards are first given out to renewal students, followed by Tier 1 families. Any remaining funds will then be awarded to Tier 2 families, followed by Tier 3 and Tier 4 families. Even if your family falls into a higher Tier and may not receive an award this upcoming year, please do still apply. Your voice will let North Carolina legislators know that this program is important to all families, will hopefully encourage more funds to be allocated toward this beneficial program, and will ensure that your family is already in the system when it comes time to apply and/or renew for next year.
  • When will awards be announced? How do I apply the award to my tuition account?
    New recipients will be notified by NCSEAA in April. The MACS Business Office will begin applying awards to tuition accounts in April and May. The first tuition payment for the 2024-25 school year is not until June 2024, therefore awards announced in April will be applied prior to the first tuition payment. If for some reason you do not see your award in your tuition account by mid-May, please contact the MACS Business Office for assistance.
  • What can the Opportunity Scholarship funds be applied to?
    NCSEAA statutes and program rules determine what the funds can be applied to. Funds can currently be applied to tuition, registration fees, and capital fees. Although MACS bills capital fees by family and not by student, NCSEAA policy requires us to split the capital fee amongst all students in a family when reporting eligible tuition and fees.
  • Am I required to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship?
    MACS families are highly encouraged to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship. Only families who are requesting to be considered for our financial aid program, FIT, will be required to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship as part of the FIT application process. This requirement is waived for families residing in South Carolina.
  • Who do I contact if I have questions about the Opportunity Scholarship?
    For application and eligibility questions, contact the NCSEAA at 855-330-3955 or OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu. Questions on how the Opportunity Scholarship is applied to your MACS tuition account, contact the MACS Business Office at 704-370-3265 or macsbilling@rcdoc.org.
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