Scholarship and Tuition Assistance

Think you can’t afford a quality Catholic education? Think again!

Leveraged Financial Aid

Catholic education has a long and rich history in Joliet and the surrounding communities of Plainfield, and Shorewood. Since 1869, Joliet Catholic Academy, led by the Joliet Franciscan Sisters and Carmelites has provided faith formation and academic excellence for high school students. But an excellent Catholic education has always required a significant financial investment. And private education can be an expense that makes education difficult for some families to access.

At Joliet Catholic Academy, we are committed to granting access to as many families as possible. In fact, no student at JCA pays 100% of the cost of education.

How do we do this? Three ways; First, through the JCA endowment supported by our generous donor base on an annual level. Second, through merit based scholarship for Top Entrance Exam Scorers and Leadership Awards in the JCA Heritage Award Program. And finally, through other supporting activities. Like our annual fundraisers including Jubilate.

So the cost of tuition has already been supplemented for every Joliet Catholic Academy student. Instead of passing on the full cost of education, families pay no more than 90% of the cost to educate. This commitment to providing an affordable education that is accessible to ALL Will County-area families is foundational to the mission of Joliet Catholic Academy.

As a result of this continued commitment, the leadership of JCA is launching a new and exciting program that will help grant access to a high-quality Catholic education to more families. This new program is Leveraged Financial Aid.

Leveraged Financial is just that…Leveraged. We match your tuition rate to your family’s unique, financial position. So the tuition at Joliet Catholic Academy is not a one size fits all. It’s a range…A range that spans from about 25% to 90% of the full cost of this high-quality Catholic education. Families interested in Leveraged Financial Aid simply submit a financial profile to a confidential third-party service online called FACTS. Based on a recommendation to our administration, your leveraged financial aid is confirmed. It’s as easy as that.

Think you can’t afford a quality Catholic education? Think again. With Leveraged Financial Aid at Joliet Catholic Academy, an excellent Catholic education has never been more accessible. For more information, please see the below links.

Click Here to view a Spanish translation of JCA’s Financial Aid programs offered.

2023-2024 Financial Aid (based off 10 monthly payments beginning in July)

*Monthly payments are based on a 10-month average. Official tuition rates and payment schedule will be set in late December. It is the policy of Joliet Catholic Academy not to grant any financial aid for a period longer than one year. Applications must be made annually through FACTS and Empower Illinois.


Financial Need-Based Scholarship Applications

1. FACTS Online Application 

  • FACTS will open on November 1, 2023 for JCA and the Catholic Education Foundation for parents interested in enrolling their child as a freshman in the fall of 2022.
  • Due by December 31, 2023 for priority Financial aid consideration from the JCA Endowment and the JCA Leveraged Financial Aid program; due by March 1, 2024 for Joliet Diocesan Aid. The Diocese of Joliet’s Kazma Family Foundation Application is due by March 1, 2024. 
  • Returning students must re-apply each year. April 1, 2024 is the deadline for applications for returning JCA students.
  • It is the policy of Joliet Catholic Academy no to grant any aid for period longer than one year. Applications must be made annually through FACTS and Empower Illinois.
  • Need Based Tuition Assistance, Scholarships and Grants – Distributed by Joliet Catholic Academy upon the completion of FACTS need-based assessment.

    Divorced/Separated/Non-Married Parents

    All separate household families seeking assistance will need both households to submit a FACTS application or upload each responsible guardian’s financial information into the same FACTS application. Unless there is a divorce decree or separation agreement stating that one parent is the sole financially responsible party, Joliet Catholic Academy requires the income and tax information for both parents. Parents who are divorced or separated but share the financial responsibility for tuition may both apply separately for need based financial aid.

 

 

2. Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship Program

  • Current and incoming families can receive $7,035-$14,430 off tuition in scholarships via the Illinois Department of Revenue’s Tax Credit Scholarship program. JCA partners with Empower Illinois, the state’s largest Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) for the Invest in Kids Act.
  • A student qualifies if his or her family earns 300% of the federal poverty level or less (in other words, a family of 4 earning $78,600 or less for the 2020 tax year).
  • Applications for the 20213-2024 school year are currently available at www.empowerillinois.org.

Merit-Based Scholarship Opportunities

1. Heritage Award Leadership Program

  • Merit-based awards ranging from $1,000-$5,000 off tuition based on leadership, talent, and service. 
  • Requires submission of application, 500-word essay, grade school report card(s), and letter of recommendation.
  • Students must take the Entrance Exam at JCA and register before the March 1, 2024 spring registration deadline for the Class of 2028.
  • Finalists will be interviewed by the Heritage Award Committee to determine recipients.

2. Franciscan/Carmelite Entrance Exam Top Scorer Scholarships

  • This is a merit-based scholarship for incoming freshmen only. This scholarship is awarded based on entrance exam scores; award amounts vary. Students are automatically eligible when they take the December 2, 2023 Entrance Exam. No Aid application is necessary.
  • Scholarships typically range from $500-$2,000 off freshman year tuition depending on the pool of entrance exam testers.

3. Frank Golf Scholarship in Mathematics

  • Provides 50% tuition assistance to incoming JCA students based on excellence in Math and financial need. Students will be identified based on their FACTS Financial Aid application and HSPT Entrance Exam test scores. Mr. Frank Golf recently retired after the 2016-2017 school year, but not before providing 50 years of service to Joliet Catholic High School and Joliet Catholic Academy as a member of the Math Department.

Other Financial Aid Opportunities

Tuition Transfer Grant Program

  • Joliet Catholic Academy is proud to announce continued participation in the Joliet Diocese Tuition Transfer Grant program for the 2023-2024 school year. Students entering grades ten through 12 who transfer from any public, private, charter or home school are eligible to receive a $4,000 transfer discount. ($3,000 discount off the 1st year enrolled and $1,000 off the 2nd year).

Sallie Mae Loans

  • For expenses associated with your child’s private kindergarten through grade 12 education.
  • When you have expenses that aren’t covered by savings, financial aid, and traditional payment plans, get the money you need to help pay for your child’s private school education.

Your Tuition Solution

  • Your Tuition Solution℠ is dedicated to providing solutions for financing K-12 education

  • Since 2004, Your Tuition Solution has helped thousands of families with tuition financing through flexible payment plans and an easy online application process. Discover how the program can help you and your families by completing the enrollment form today.
    Plan Rates 3.99% – 24.99% APR based on the amount financed and applicant’s credit history
    Sample Monthly Payments The monthly payment is only $373 for a $15,500 program with a 6.99% APR over 48 months 

    The monthly payment is only $403 for a $15,500 program with a 10.99% APR over 48 months

    Plan Amounts $2,000 – $50,000
    Plan Terms 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 or 84 months

JCA Work Service Program

Requirement: Students in need of financial assistance to attend JCA may apply to work the JCA Summer Work Service Program. Students with the greatest financial need along with this completed application will take priority. Students should have applied for FACTS to qualify for the JCA Work Program.

Click here for Work Program Application

Please complete entire application.

– One letter/note of recommendation is required. A Teacher, Coach, Principal, or Pastor may complete your recommendation. Email document Dr. Bailey: rbailey@jca-online.org

– Academic Profile: Please email your most recent report card. Email document Dr. Bailey: rbailey@jca-online.org

– Please return the COMPLETED application by Friday, May 12, 2023.

– Late applications will not be accepted.

– Applications must be complete (Application, Letter of Rec. & Report Card)

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Click Here to view the Financial Aid PowerPoint from our 2022 Open House.

Click Here to view a 2022-2023 Financial Aid Planning Worksheet.

*JCA reserves the right to amend Financial Aid offers from the JCA Endowment dependent on outside financial aid sources (CEF awards, Kazma Scholarship, IL Tax Credit Scholarships).

Contact Information

  • For more information on tuition assistance at JCA, please contact JCA financial aid coordinator Mrs. Kris Horn, at 815.741.0500 ext. 264.
  • For more information on the Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) of the Joliet Diocese, please click here.

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