Tuition Assistance Catholic Schools 2025-2026: We're Here to Help
What does it look like to receive the tuition assistance Catholic schools like St. Agnes offer? Find out about the process and how to receive financial aid for your daughter.
Choosing a Catholic school is an investment in your child’s faith, character, and academics – and it’s normal to have questions about cost. The good news: most families combine school-based aid, diocesan support, and scholarships to make tuition manageable.
Many dioceses use a single, secure application (often FACTS or Blackbaud) to qualify families for several programs at once, which streamlines the process and expands options.
Across dioceses, tuition assistance is typically need-based, separate from admissions decisions, and renewed annually with updated documentation. Applying early usually improves the chance of an award because funds are limited and distributed on a rolling or priority basis.
Learn more about the tuition assistance Catholic schools like St. Agnes Academy make available for families.
St. Agnes Tuition Assistance at a Glance
At St. Agnes Academy, our mission includes need-based aid for admitted students, so no student is deterred by finances from applying. Assistance can cover tuition and the freshman laptop purchase.
Need is determined by our Financial Aid Committee after review of the online application submitted by the deadline. For 2025–2026, approximately 20% of students received nearly $2,950,000 in financial aid.
Grants may be partial and, in limited cases, full. (Full-tuition awards are the exception; families are expected to share in the investment.) Awards are made one year at a time and may be renewed when families submit the annual financial statement and students maintain strong academics and citizenship.
What Aid Usually Covers (and What to Budget)
Most Catholic high schools prioritize tuition in their awards; some include specific fees or technology (like St. Agnes’ freshman laptop).
Families should still plan for uniforms, books, activities, and fees. Many schools and dioceses encourage building a full-year budget and asking about parish, foundation, or endowment scholarships that can “stack” with school aid when guidelines allow. (Examples include diocesan or foundation funds in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Fort Worth, and other markets.)
How Dioceses Typically Structure Aid (Quick Snapshots)
- Single application, multiple opportunities. For many families, one FACTS application can qualify them for several diocesan or partner awards. (Louisville’s CEF uses a single FACTS app with a published fee and deadline.)
- Apply early for best consideration. Programs like the Archdiocese of New York’s note that earlier qualifying applicants have better chances while funds last.
- Need-based, renewed annually, separate from admission. The Archdiocese of Washington’s program (PreK–12) is a clear example: aid is based on demonstrated need, must be applied for each year, and does not affect school admission decisions.
- Local endowments and special funds. Some dioceses sustain aid through endowments and targeted funds (e.g., Detroit’s endowment grants and Pittsburgh’s Bishop’s Education Fund).
- Scale and impact. Some communities publish impact snapshots. For example, Louisville’s Catholic Education Foundation reported $8.3M awarded to 3,750 elementary students in a recent cycle, illustrating the breadth of support available.
- Houston-area resources. The Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston highlights tuition assistance through its FACTS program and provides helpful planning tools like a tuition-assistance calculator.
Tuition Assistance Catholic Schools: How to Apply at St. Agnes
St. Agnes uses Blackbaud Financial Aid Management to support families. Here’s how it works this school year:
- Deadline: January 15, 2026
- School Code: 14060
- Application fee: $35
- One application per household. If parents are separated, divorced, or never married, each parent completes an application and uploads tax documents.
Questions about applying for financial aid? Contact Brigid Schiro, Director of Enrollment Management, at 713-219-5412.
4 Smart Planning Tips at St. Agnes
Consider these final recommendations as you prepare to apply for financial aid.
- Apply early – funds are limited. Early, complete applications get the best consideration.
- Build a full-year budget. List all expected costs (tuition, technology, uniforms, books, activities) and subtract expected aid to see your true cost.
- Ask about “stacking.” Many families combine school grants with diocesan, parish, or foundation awards where eligibility rules allow.
- Stay in touch. Our Admissions and Financial Aid teams are here to help with timelines and documentation.
Here to Support You With the Financial Aid Process
Every family has a unique financial situation. We never want finances to stand in the way of your daughter receiving a top-notch high school education. We are confident our approach to financial support can benefit your family and your daughter’s future.
Have specific questions about financial aid and the tuition assistance Catholic schools like St. Agnes offer? Reach out today for a conversation! We look forward to learning more about your family’s needs.
