FIT Family Individualized Tuition

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.

Family Individualized Tuition (FIT) is available to all students in grades PK (full-time) through 12th grade. The application for the 2025-26 school year is now live. For inquiries on FIT for the 2024-25 school year, please contact our office. To apply and learn more about the FIT program and requirements, please read through the information on this page.

A Customized Tuition Solution FIT for Your Family

The MACS FIT program is designed to make a Catholic education possible for all families based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds. MACS is proud to use the Clarity Application to determine a family’s level of financial need based on the information that families share in the application which includes assets, income, expenses, and debts.

To get started, please go to the Clarity Application and create an account. The application typically takes less than 30 minutes to complete. The Clarity Application is also mobile-friendly so you can complete it from anywhere. You are also able to save your progress and return at any time. At the end of the application, there is a $60 fee to submit, and you can share your application with additional schools that accept the Clarity Application for no additional charge. Simply use the dropdown menu in the application to select those schools.

Please remember to return to your dashboard after you complete and submit your Clarity Application, as MACS requires you to upload additional documentation.

The deadline for completing the financial aid application including relevant supplemental documents is May 15 for returning students. For new students, families are encouraged to complete their application at the same time as applying for admission.

If you need support during the process of completing your application, there is in-app support available through the “Help” button in the bottom left of the screen, as well as email and phone support at support@clarityapp.com or 206-210-3752, in both English and Spanish. The application itself is also fully translated into Spanish.

Important: Please search for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) in the Clarity application.

FIT Determination

To be considered for FIT, submit an application for your family through the link above, along with any requested documentation and the non-refundable FIT application fee. If there are circumstances that have recently changed or you wish to explain in further detail, the application allows you to explain any change in circumstances. If we need any documentation related to that change, we will reach out to you.

Once your family's application is submitted in full, the application will be processed and then sent 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. FIT notifications for the upcoming school year typically begin in March.

FIT Need Appeals

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.

NCSEAA Scholarship

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) offers an income-based scholarship of up to $7,468 per school year to recipients.

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.

We recommend new families interested in NCSEAA scholarships to apply before March 1. Families applying for FIT are required to apply for the Opportunity Scholarship in order to be considered for FIT, with the exception of students in grades PK or TK, and SC residents. To review requirements and to apply, please visit https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/.

Tuition Adjustments for Catholic Families

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

Participating Catholic discount - please visit https://www.discovermacs.org/tuition for more information on eligibility for the Participating Catholic Tuition Rate.

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.