Tuition

You have an important financial decision to make for your family. You must decide how to finance your child’s tuition at Mother Teresa Catholic Academy.

What kind of returns will my child receive from an education at Mother Teresa Catholic Academy?

• Catholic faith development nurtures your child’s spirituality and instills values.
• Superior academic education enables your child to compete and succeed.
• Caring and supportive learning environment enhances your child’s self-esteem.
• Safe, secure, and peaceful atmosphere of respect is reinforced by discipline.
• Open, collaborative communication focuses on what’s best for your child.

You understand these values, but you may need to know if you can afford these returns at Mother Teresa Catholic Academy. The following is a review of the tuition at Mother Teresa as well as the financial possibilities available to you.

The 2023-2024 tuition at Mother Teresa for grades PreK (Full Day) - 8th Grades will be $5225 (one child). All families pay the same tuition rates. There is no separate non-parishioner tuition. **Parishioners at both St. Mary and St. Liborius Parishes, however, are eligible for additional scholarship funding through Feeder Parish Scholarships (See Below).

In partnership with FACTS, Mother Teresa parents may choose from several tuition payment options including receiving a monthly invoice to send in ten monthly payments, having tuition automatically withdrawn from a bank or checking account for ten months, using a credit card or making online payments.

Here are some options available to pay your tuition. You may choose any of the options for either automatic withdrawal or invoice billing.

Option # 1: Payment in full in August

Option #2: Payment by Semester in August and January

Option # 3: Payment in 10 month installments.

What kind of tuition assistance is available to help me meet those expenses?

FACTS: Diocesan Tuition Assistance Application. The Diocese of Joliet awards grants of up to $750 per child and $1000 per family based on financial need. Applications must be completed by March to be eligible for grants for the following school year.

**Feeder Parish Scholarships: Both St. Mary Parish and St. Liborius Parish, the two main feeder parishes for Mother Teresa Catholic Academy, will offer scholarship money to families who are active in the life of the parish. Details are available from either parish for this Church scholarship.

Education Foundation Grants: Grants of $500 per child are available from Mother Teresa with funds from the Diocese of Joliet Education Foundation. Typically, the school gives 5 of these grants per school year.

Scrip/Fundability: Scrip or Fundability is a program in which families can purchase gift cards which can be used like cash for hundreds of participating businesses including grocery stores, gas stations, home improvement/department stores, restaurants etc. Each time a family purchases, they receive a percentage credit (percentages vary among businesses) which can be applied to tuition. In this way, without purchasing anything additional, a family can earn money back simply by buying the gas, groceries, office supplies, gift items, food that they normally would have purchased anyway. Many families enlist their entire extended family and workplaces in purchasing Scrip/Fundability which can yield hundreds of dollars for their tuition.

Here are answers to frequently asked financial questions

Who qualifies for financial assistance?

FACTS: Tuition Assistance Grants and grants from the Diocese of Joliet Education Foundation are based on financial need. Income level, number of dependents, and extenuating family circumstances are the basis for eligibility.

When will I be notified of how much assistance I have been granted?

FACTS: Tuition Assistance Grants are due in March. Notification of acceptance occurs in September. Diocese of Joliet Education Foundation Grants are awarded in October/November of each school year and are entered directly onto a family’s FACTS tuition account. Parish Tuition Assistance Scholarships are awarded in the fall of each school year based on a family’s parish activity during the previous school year.

Are there other fees besides tuition?

Yes.Registration $175 per family due upon receipt of registration paperwork. Other fees due at the start of the school year are Learning Materials and Supplies Fee ($400 per child) & PTO Fee ($50 per family).  Additionally, all students in grades 2-8 receive a laptop or chromebook and are assessed a Laptop Rental & Maintenance Fee which may be paid each trimester.

What if my financial situation changes during the school year?

In some cases the family’s financial situation changes during the school year. In these cases, the family is encouraged to speak with the pastor of their home parish and the school principal.

The administration and staff at Mother Teresa Catholic Academy want to be a support to you in this process of financing our school’s tuition. We want to make sure that you have investigated and understand every option available to you. If you have any questions, please contact the school business office. (708-672-3093)