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Affording Catholic Education

The Diocese of Lansing awarded more than $694,000 in scholarships to help families afford Catholic school for the 2023/24 school year.

Many families need and receive financial assistance for Catholic school tuition. Diocese of Lansing Catholic schools believe that a Catholic education should be available, accessible and affordable to any family that wants to provide their children with an authentically Catholic, academically rigorous education.

Our Scholarship program is a need-based assistance program. Need is determined by an independent, third-party service, F.A.C.T.S., which makes its assessment based on income and tax information. However, the FACTS application does have a section that offers the family to list any changes in their financial situation, and these are taken into consideration by the individual schools.

Eligibility Criteria for All Scholarships

  • Family must complete a FACTS financial aid application online on or before March 1, 2024.

  • Student must show a financial need of at least $750

  • The Student must be Catholic, attend a Diocese of Lansing school, and belong to a parish in the Diocese of Lansing.

Scholarships for the 2024-25 School Year

Diocese of Lansing Grants

  • Grades K-8: $750 per student
  • Grades 9-12: $1000 per student

The Venerable Augustus Tolton Scholarship 

  • Grades K-12: $500

The Venerable Augustus Tolton Scholarship is aimed at increasing the number of Catholic African American students in the Diocese of Lansing’s Catholic schools. It will operate under the patronage of Venerable Augustus Tolton (1854–97), a former slave who became the first African American priest in the United States. This grant is $500 per student. In addition to the Grant Criteria for all grants, student must be African-American or Black and show a need of at least $500.

The Saint Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Scholarship

  • Grades K-12: $500

The St. Sanchez del Rio Scholarship is aimed at helping a greater number of Catholic Hispanic American families in the Diocese of Lansing afford a Catholic education for their children. It will operate under the patronage of St. Sanchez del Rio (1913-1928), a Mexican youth so devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe and in love with his faith that he sacrificed his life in defense of both.  This grant is $500 per student.  In addition to the Grant Criteria for all grants, students must be Hispanic and show a need of at least $500 over and above the $750 or $1,000 need shown for Diocesan grants.

Applying for Financial Aid

  • The deadline for applications is March 1, 2024. 

  • By completing the FACTS application, you are applying for all grants available through the Diocese of Lansing. No need to complete an application for each grant.

  • Applicants can complete the online form by clicking the FACTS link: https://online.factsmgt.com/aid

About the FACTS application: The link will be available December 1, 2023 and will close March 1, 2024. After March 1, 2024 please contact your school directly. There is a $35.00 fee payable to FACTS through their online application process.

Once the FACTS online form has been completed, the following information will need to be submitted to FACTS:

  • Copies of your most recent Federal tax forms including all supporting tax schedules and W2’s.

  • Copies of supporting documentation for Social Security Income, Welfare, Child Support, Food Stamps, Workers’ Compensation, and TANF.

All supporting documentation must be uploaded online through the FACTS online form. You will receive a determination letter by May 30th. If you received a grant, your school will be notified and the grant will be sent directly to your school in October of 2024.

If you have questions about the financial assistance process through FACTS, you may speak with a FACTS Customer Care Representative at 1-866-441-4637 or Diocese of Lansing, Financial Aid Advisor, Kathy Ruddock at (517) 342-2482 or by email: scholarships@dioceseoflansing.org.

Additional Assistance

Other types of scholarships and grants also are available, depending on your school or parish.

Contact your Catholic School for details about the scholarships they may have available to you. In addition, a parish may support a student with a parishioner rate of tuition or parish support.

Also, did you know that as of 2018 families can use their 529 savings plans to pay for private K-12 education without penalty? Contact your 529 plan advisor for details.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Financial Aid Process 

  • What if my application is submitted after March 1 2024, am I eligible for financial aid?

    • You must have your application completed by March 1st. Applications received after that date are not eligible for the Diocese of Lansing grants, but you may still be eligible for financial assistance from your school. Contact your school directly for more information.

  • Do I have to complete separate applications for my children if they attend different schools?

    • No, you submit one application per family. You list each student and the school they attend on one application.  The Diocese of Lansing and each school will receive your determination.

  • Do I have to complete separate applications for each grant available?

    • No, you do not have to complete separate applications for each grant for the Diocese of Lansing.  Please contact your school directly for information on their financial assistance available.

  • What if I do not have access to a computer, and cannot complete the form online?

    • Many schools will let you use a computer in their library; please contact your school directly for more information.

  • I can complete the form online but I cannot upload or scan the documents, what do I do?

    • Many schools can help you upload the document. Contact your school office for more information.

  • When will I know if I qualified for any financial assistance?

    • You will receive letters by May 30 from the Diocese of Lansing, notifying you of your determination and amount of financial assistance.  If you qualified for a grant, your school will also be notified of the grant and the amount.

  • I did not qualify for any financial assistance from the Diocese of Lansing, is there anything I can do to receive financial assistance.

    • If it was determined that you did not show a financial need, and you still require financial assistance. You can contact your school directly for assistance. There is no appeal process for the Diocese of Lansing grants.

  • I have other questions regarding tuition and financial aid, who do I contact? your school office

If you have, questions on the FACTS application please contact FACTS customer care at 1-866-441-4637. If you have questions regarding tuition and financial aid from your school, please contact them directly.

In addition to the scholarships available to our K-12 families, we offer:

The Saint Katherine Drexel Scholarship for Minority Teachers

The Saint Katherine Drexel Scholarship aims to increase the number of Catholic minority teachers among school staff. It will help towards tuition costs for Catholic persons of color who wish to transition into teaching within a Catholic school via the State of Michigan’s Teachers of Tomorrow program. The value of tuition assistance will be up to $2,500. That is 50% of the tuition. Its patron is Saint Katharine Drexel (1858 – 1955), the great pioneer of educational advancement for Native Americans and African Americans.