An investment in faith-based education means an investment in your child’s future. The Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools are committed to providing the highest quality Catholic education to the families who desire this for their children. The CSS Business Office works diligently to help you provide this wonderful opportunity to your children.
Tuition
The current school year 2008/2009 Tuition Rate is as follows:
1 Student 2 Students 3 Students
Rate without Parish Support: $7,060 $14,020 $15,545
Rate with Parish Support*: $6,185 $12,270 $12,920
*(Please contact your parish office to find out if your family qualifies for Parish Support toward your high school tuition. Each parish may have different guidelines for qualification.)
**Additional detailed information regarding the GRCSS tuition payment policy is located on the tuition contract.
There is an incoming 9th grade deposit of $400 due upon registration and is deducted from the billed tuition amount. For example, tuition bill $6,185 - $400 (deposit) = $5,785 tuition due.
The Catholic Secondary Schools’ billing cycle is from July 5 – April 5. Monthly payments are taken via automatic debits and calculated by dividing the tuition due July 5th by 10 payments with the last payment due April 5th.
Tuition may be paid in full to receive a $100 per family discount (please deduct the $100 discount from your full tuition payment before sending to CSS). Payment must be received by June 30th to receive the discount. Also, you have the option of paying all four years upfront at the current year’s tuition rate. This gives you an approximate savings of 5% per year.
Tuition Assistance
Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools (GRCSS) offers tuition assistance to families in need. In fact, 1 out of 4 CSS families receive tuition assistance. Applications are available through the GRCSS business office or high school main office beginning in February. Private School Aid Service (PSAS) processes applications and notifies GRCSS with the results. Need is determined by an evaluation of applicant's tax returns and information provided on the application form. The following is an example of the rate for a family who qualifies for the maximum tuition aid, One child:$6,185 - $3,092.00 (maximum aid) = $3,092 (tuition billed after aid received). Applicants may make an appeal to the Director of Finance and Operations for additional aid if there are extenuating circumstances that may not be evident through the PSAS application process.
Additional Tuition Aid
CSS Scholarship Listing
Bishop’s Fund for Catholic Education
The Bishop’s Fund for Catholic Education, an endowed fund within the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan, provides tuition assistance for students attending a diocesan Catholic school. Parents are asked to fill out a PSAS (Private School Aide Service) form, which is used to determine who qualifies for tuition assistance through the Bishop’s Fund. Applications are available through the CSS Business Office or the high school main offices. Deadline is March 2008.
Catholic Central Willie Butler Fund and West Catholic LaPres/Gerke Fund
Additional tuition assistance is available through the Catholic Central Willie Butler Fund or West Catholic LaPres/Gerke Fund. Families who apply for PSAS will receive a notification from their high school in September regarding the application deadline and details for the Willie Butler Fund (Catholic Central) or LaPres/Gerke (West Catholic). Tuition assistance from these funds range from $200 to $1,000 in additional assistance over and above PSAS.
Minority Scholars Program
The Minority Scholars Program has been established to recognize achievements in scholastics, leadership, and service among minority students from the West Michigan area. The Catholic Secondary Schools offer ten (10) scholarships at each high school per year to qualifying incoming freshmen. For program requirements, deadlines and registration forms, please contact (616) 233-5814 or nancybeadling@grcss.org.
Minority Scholars Application
SCRIP
The Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary Schools participate in the SCRIP program. SCRIP credits from partner schools may be applied to CSS tuition. Families must notify their SCRIP coordinators of their CSS tuition account number and request that credits be applied to their high school tuition.
Meijer Community Rewards
CSS has an established account with the Meijer Community Rewards Program in which 100% of your Meijer Community Rewards may be applied to your high school tuition if you use the GRCSS Meijer account number 801593. Meijer Community Rewards applications are available through the CSS Business Office or high school main offices. If you have an existing Meijer Community Rewards account with credits going to your elementary school, you will need to change your account number to receive the 100% credit to your high school tuition. Please call the CSS Business Office for more information at (616) 233-5981.
Your high school tuition account may be opened before your child attends high school if you wish to get a jump-start on building credits toward your high school tuition. Please contact the CSS Business Office to set up an account at (616) 233-5981.
Mercantile Bank
CSS has a relationship with Mercantile Bank for families that wish to fund their child's tuition with home equity term loans, home equity lines of credit or personal loans. Families may benefit from longer repayment terms as well as possible tax deductions. Mercantile Bank will waive their regular loan-processing fees for all Grand Rapids Catholic Secondary School families who work with them to finance their child's education. For more information, please contact Mercantile Bank Retail Loan Officers, Terri Gray or Laurie Zurek at (616) 785-5456.
Chemical Bank
Chemical Bank is very interested in assisting families afford a Catholic education. Chemical Bank and Catholic Secondary Schools have teamed up and developed a "Budgeting Workshop for Catholic Education" which is available to all parents with students in Preschool up to High School. This workshop will assist parents and guardians desiring a Catholic Education for their children with creating a budget and a financial plan to achieve this goal.
If you have additional questions regarding tuition, please feel free to contact the Admissions Office at (616) 233-5814.