What Montgomery Catholic Costs, and How Families Pay for It
Most families who call us have already decided they like the school. What they are actually working out is whether the numbers work.
We would rather help you answer that honestly than have you rule us out on a guess. Here is what tuition costs, how families pay it, what discounts exist, and what help is available.
Start With the Real Number
Our tuition rates are set annually by the MCPS Financial Committee and the MCPS Advisory Committee, and rates differ by grade level and by whether your family is a registered parishioner. The current year’s full rate table lives on our Tuition and Fees page.
Look at that number first. Then read the rest of this page, because for most families, the number they actually pay is lower than the number they first see.
Two Ways to Pay
You choose your plan when you sign your tuition contract.
Lump Sum — the full amount is due July 15.
Monthly Payment Plan — twelve payments from June 15 through May 15. The monthly plan includes a 6% payment plan fee, which is fully disclosed in your student contract and family billing ledger.
Worth doing the math on: if you can manage the lump sum, it costs less. If you cannot, twelve months is what makes enrollment possible, and we would much rather have your child here on the monthly plan than not at all.
If you enroll after June 1, your monthly amount depends on your enrollment date, how many months remain in the school year (which ends May 31), and the next available draft day in Finalsite.
Two Required Fees
Registration — $250 per student. Due when you complete your tuition contract, non-refundable. A signed contract and a paid registration fee reserve your child’s spot on the class roster.
Capital assessment — $750 per family. Paid on the same schedule you choose for tuition, either a lump sum in July or monthly beginning in June. It funds debt service and capital projects through the MCPS building fund.
Note that the capital assessment is per family, not per student. For families with several children, that matters.
Discounts That May Lower Your Rate
More than one child enrolled? Second child: $1,000 off. Third child: $1,500 off. Families with four or more students may qualify for a tuition cap. Call our Business Office to discuss eligibility.
Registered parishioner? Registered, tithing parishioners at any of the parishes below qualify for reduced tuition rates. Your pastor verifies active parishioner status before the discounted rate is applied, and some River Region parishes also help subsidize our school.
Holy Spirit · St. Bede the Venerable · St. Peter · Holy Family (MAFB) · Our Lady of Guadalupe (Wetumpka) · Our Lady Queen of Mercy · St. Vincent de Paul (Tallassee) · St. Joseph’s (Prattville) · City of St. Jude
What Is Already Included
Before you budget for extras, know what your tuition already covers:
- All school supplies, grades K3–6
- Consumable books, grades K3–8
- Most textbooks, grades 7–12
- Local day-trip field trips, grades 7–12
- Admission to all regular-season home sporting events, K3–12
- Technology fees, K3–12
- Yearbook, all grades
What Will Cost Extra
- Uniforms through Southern School Uniforms, 1717 Eastern Blvd, (334) 215-0000. Prices vary.
- Lunches, brought from home or ordered at welunchit.com.
- Participation fees for band (grades 5–12), athletic spirit packs, AP testing, and ACT preparation.
- Foreign exchange student fee of $300 at registration, separate from the SEVIS fee.
If the Number Still Does Not Work
This is the part we most want families to read, because a surprising number of people never ask.
Variable Tuition. Tuition at Montgomery Catholic is not one-size-fits-all. Any family, current or new, who is concerned about affording the full rate may apply. Income, assets, unusual expenses, and family size are all considered. Applications go to SmartAid, a third-party agency, and are confidential. Applying does not affect your admission or re-enrollment decision. Details are on our Variable Tuition and Financial Assistance page.
The CHOOSE Act — Alabama Education Savings Accounts.
Alabama Accountability Act SGOs — Scholarship Granting Organizations.
Montgomery Catholic Scholarships — our endowed and school-funded awards.
Two things we will tell you plainly. Financial aid never covers 100% of tuition; every family pays a portion, plus the capital assessment fee. And financial aid is not provided to students in K3/4, so if you are enrolling a three- or four-year-old, plan for full tuition in those first years.
Apply for admission or re-enrollment first, then apply for assistance. And start early assistance decisions are typically finalized in April or May.
For Military Families
We offer rolling admissions, so you can apply year-round, including summer and mid-year transfers. All four campuses are within a short drive of Maxwell Air Force Base, and roughly 21% of our elementary and middle school students come from military families. See our Military Families page, and call our Business Office if a mid-year arrival complicates your tuition timing we deal with that often.
How Billing Actually Works
We use Finalsite for contracts and billing. Your tuition contract is generated there, and you will be prompted to log in and sign digitally. After that, you receive monthly statements, a customized payment schedule, automated reminders, and a dashboard that provides a clear breakdown of tuition, fees, and billable items.
Talk to a Person
Numbers on a page only go so far. If you want to know what your family would actually pay, call us.
MCPS Business Office David Schwarz · Lauren Huss 5350 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116 (334) 272-7220 dschwarz@montgomerycatholic.org · lhuss@montgomerycatholic.org
Our Business Office handles accounting for all four campuses, so this is the right number whichever campus your child attends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a private school education in Montgomery, Alabama? Our rates vary by grade level and parishioner status and are published each year on our Tuition and Fees page. Most families pay less than the published rate once discounts and assistance are applied.
What payment plans do you offer? A lump sum due July 15, or twelve monthly payments from June 15 through May 15. The monthly plan includes a 6% payment plan fee.
Is there a fee for paying monthly? Yes, 6%, fully disclosed in your contract and billing ledger.
What do I pay beyond tuition? A non-refundable $250 registration fee per student and a $750 capital assessment fee per family.
Do you offer a multi-child discount? Yes — $1,000 off a second child and $1,500 off a third. Four or more students may qualify for a tuition cap.
Do Catholic families pay less? Registered, tithing parishioners at one of nine partner parishes qualify for parishioner rates, verified by their pastor.
Can we get help if we cannot afford full tuition? Yes. Any family concerned about affording the full rate may apply for Variable Tuition, confidentially, without affecting admission. The CHOOSE Act, Alabama Accountability Act SGOs, and Montgomery Catholic Scholarships may also apply.
Is financial aid available for K3? No. Financial aid is not provided to students in K3/4.
Who do I call about billing? David Schwarz or Lauren Huss in the MCPS Business Office at (334) 272-7220.
Come See What You Would Be Paying For
The best way to judge the value is to walk the halls. Schedule a tour at the campus you are considering, and bring your child — our principals and faculty would like to meet them.
When you are ready to apply, our Admissions Checklist lists what you will need by grade level.
