What Is Growing Catholic Education?

Our mission is to provide tuition assistance allowing middle-income families the choice of a Catholic-centered education for their family.  Talk to parents, talk to schools, talk to parishes – the primary reason students are not attending Catholic school is cost. 

Catholic education should be affordable, accessible, and available to all.  Through these tuition assistance awards, we are committed to helping to reduce the cost burden. 

Continue scrolling for answers to five frequently asked questions.

Why the FOCUS on Catholic Education?

For generations, Catholic education has been an integral part of our country’s education system, providing the values that parents look in quality education – superior academics, faith formation, and service to others.  

The founders of Growing Catholic Education view Catholic education as a foundation for building strong, faith-first families.  They see a multigenerational impact as well, students impacting their parents and eventually becoming parents with children of their own.  Our donors want to share the positive impact of Catholic education with others.

Why ONLY Middle-Income Families?

Middle-income families are the first group to forgo Catholic education due to cost.  Most schools, parishes, and dioceses have financial aid programs in place for providing tuition assistance to low-income families. These programs rarely exist for middle-income families.  We believe that the cost of attendance should not be a deciding factor for a family to provide a Catholic education to their children. 

The federal government has a very clear-cut definition for low-income families.  Ask a hundred families to define ‘middle-income’ and there will be a hundred different answers.  Each family is different!  Using county-level data tabulated by the United States Department of Agriculture and the cost of Catholic education in your area, we can determine a market-specific definition.  More detail can be found on the How It Works.

How MUCH is the Tuition Assistance?

Tuition assistance is at least $2,000 per year.  Our program is designed to help a student experience a K-12 Catholic education. Awards are $2,000 per year during the Kindergarten through 8th-grade years and increase to $3,000 for 9th through 12th grade. 

Awards are paid directly to your school, in turn reducing your monthly tuition.

What if we CHANGE Schools?

Our tuition assistance awards are designed with the student and family in mind.  Family career decisions should not impact your ability to afford or access Catholic education. 

When relocation beckons, our awards move with you.  Remain in Catholic education, and we will work with your school to ensure your tuition assistance will continue.

Is the Tuition Assistance RENEWABLE?

Yes, this tuition assistance is renewable.  It is our goal that once a student starts Catholic education, they continue through at least 12th grade, and these awards are designed as such.  Remain in Catholic education, continue to meet income guidelines, and remain in good financial standing with your school for a streamlined renewal process.

If, in any year, family income increases beyond our middle-income limits, the following school year with result in an award equal to 50% of the standard tuition assistance award.  If family income continues beyond the middle-income limit for a 2nd year, the tuition assistance will cease.