Tuition Assistance for You and Your Daughter - Marian High School

THE TUITION ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONPROCESS IS FORMATTED TO TAKE INTOCONSIDERATION ALL FACTORS THAT MAYDETERMINE THE TUITION ASSISTANCE AWARD.Make an appointment. For the 2011-2012 schoolyear, freshman parents are invited to make anappointment with the Director of Finance tobegin the application process.Complete a Tuition Assistance application. If youchoose not meet with the Director of Finance,application forms are available duringMarian’s Open House and Placement Examand can be found on our web site,www.marianhighschool.net. Simply choose“Tuition Assistance Application” from thedrop-down Quick Links Menu. You may alsocontact Donna Schroeder in the Business Office(see back panel for contact information). Theapplication is a simple three-page form. You willneed to provide your income tax return and W2sfor the year.To determine the amount of tuition reduction,income information provided is then processedthrough the FAFSA index. Special circumstancesare taken into consideration in order togenerate a recommended tuition reduction.We invite you to contact a member of our BusinessOffice staff with any questions, concerns or forassistance in completing the application process.If you complete the application by February 11,you will be notified of your tuition reductionbefore Marian’s registration on February 28. IfMarian receives the application after February 11,it will be processed within four weeks.ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TUITIONASSISTANCEMARIAN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS Onlyincoming freshmen who take the placementexam at Marian in January are eligible for thenon-transferable scholarships that will be awardedin February of 2011. An average of twenty $3,000scholarships ($750 four-year renewable) areawarded to eighth grade girls who score higheston the placement exam taken at Marian.MARIAN WORK STUDY PROGRAM The MarianWork Study Program is available to students whoqualify for tuition assistance for non-transferabletuition credit. Students may apply to work one-halfhour before or after school for one semester andreceive a $500 tuition credit. Sophomores, juniorsand seniors may apply to work during a study halland will receive a $600 tuition credit. Freshmenare ineligible during first semester for the studyhall positions. All grades are eligible for thehalf-hour positions.YOUR PARISH Many area parishes offerscholarships or other kinds of tuition assistancethat can be applied to your Marian tuition.Contact your pastor for more information.OMAHA ARCHDIOCESAN EDUCATIONALFOUNDATION The Archdiocese of Omaha offerstuition grants to low-income families sending theirchildren to Catholic schools. These applicationsare available after January 15 and due back to theMarian Business Office by March 31. Please contactDonna Schroeder in Marian’s Business Office afterJanuary 15 for an application.HINTS FROM PARENTS• Begin planning early. Contact Donna Schroederin Marian’s Business Office for informationabout tuition and fee costs, the payment plans,the tuition assistance process, other options forassistance, an estimate of your potential tuitionreduction and answers to any questions youmay have. We welcome your call even if yourdaughter is years away from beginninghigh school.• Check out all options for tuition assistance: seeADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.• Take Marian’s Placement Exam for a possibleacademic scholarship opportunity.• Consider Marian’s various payment options.• Fill out application forms completely and provideas much information as possible.• If the tuition assistance award is notagreeable to you, contact the Director ofFinance immediately to set an appointmentto negotiate an acceptable award.FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSIs Marian’s tuition negotiable? YES. Marian willwork personally with each family to meet alldemonstrated financial need. We welcome theopportunity to talk about how to make Marianaffordable for you.Does tuition need to be paid all at once? NO.Marian has many payment plan options includingannually, quarterly, semi-annually and monthly.In addition, many families adjust their paymentsto include anticipated tax refunds.Do many students participate in the Marian WorkStudy Program? YES. One hundred fifty (150)students work before, after and during school toprovide secretarial and light cleaning services.I have heard that other Catholic schools providebetter financial aid packages than Marian. Is thattrue? NO. Although not completely knowledgeableof other schools’ tuition assistance programs,we have compared our aid amounts with otherCatholic schools and found most to be similar.If our family situation changes in the middle ofthe year, can our tuition assistance change? YES.Communication is key. Contact the Director ofFinance to discuss any change in your circumstance.Do any students come to Marian for free? NO.Catholic education is a choice and a sacrifice.As such, each family is expected to commit to aMarian education through some amount ofmonetary investment.How is tuition assistance funded? Marian ismuch more than a school; it is a community.This community believes strongly in the value ofa Marian education and the mission of educatingyoung women to be leaders and life-long learnerswho will bring hope to the world. Members ofthe Marian community support Marian throughsubstantial gifts of time and treasure, whichultimately support the tuition assistance program.The Marian Endowment, The Marian Fundand fundraising events contribute a significantamount to our budgeted tuition assistance.ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR INCOMINGFRESHMAN FAMILIES In keeping with ourmission, Marian has increased the amount oftuition assistance available to incoming freshmanfamilies. We would be pleased to talk with youin more detail about our program. Please contactDonna Schroeder.What is taken into consideration whendetermining the tuition assistance award?Family income is the base factor for the aidawarded. In addition, the number of children inthe family, number in Catholic schools, number incollege and special circumstances such as healthissues and debt are also considered.