Cost should not be the first thing that rules us out.
We are a K3–12 Catholic college-preparatory school, and our mission calls us to an inclusive admissions process. Practically, that means we work with families to find a number that works. Most families who enroll here pay something other than the published rate.
Here are the four programs available, what each one is, and where to go next.
Start Here: Variable Tuition
For most families, this is the first thing to look at, and the one most often skipped.
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. We consider income, assets, unusual expenses, and family size in determining what your family can reasonably pay.
Three things families frequently do not realize:
- It is confidential. Applications go to SmartAid, an independent third-party agency, rather than being reviewed by us directly.
- It does not affect admission. Applying has no bearing on your admission or re-enrollment decision. We make those separately.
- You do not need to be in hardship to ask. If the full rate concerns you, that is reason enough.
→ Variable Tuition and Financial Assistance
The CHOOSE Act
Alabama’s Education Savings Account program, which allows eligible families to direct state education funds toward approved private school expenses.
Alabama Accountability Act Scholarships
Scholarship Granting Organizations operating under the Alabama Accountability Act award scholarships to eligible students. SGOs administer these themselves, with their own eligibility rules and deadlines, so check those directly.
→ Alabama Accountability Act SGOs
MCPS Endowed Scholarships
Our own scholarships are funded by benefactors, alumni, parishes, and friends of the school. Many are endowed, meaning a single gift supports students year after year.
→ Montgomery Catholic Scholarships
What We Will Tell You Plainly
Better you hear these now than discover them in April.
Financial aid never covers 100% of tuition. Every family pays a portion of standard tuition as an investment in their child’s education, plus the annual $750 capital assessment fee.
Financial aid is not provided to students in K3 or K4. If you are enrolling a three- or four-year-old, plan for full tuition in those first years. Assistance becomes available in later grades — so if you priced us when your child was small and walked away, the math may look different now.
You must be enrolled to be eligible to apply. That means completing the online contract and paying the non-refundable $250 registration fee per student.
Awards are typically finalized in April or May. A revised contract reflecting your award then replaces the original.
Discounts That May Already Apply
Separate from assistance, two reductions may lower your rate automatically:
Multiple children. $1,000 off for a second enrolled child, $1,500 off for a third. Families with four or more students may qualify for a tuition cap — ask our Business Office.
Registered parishioners. Registered, tithing parishioners at one of our nine partner parishes qualify for reduced parishioner rates, verified by your pastor.
The Order to Do This In
Getting the sequence wrong costs families time.
1. Apply for admission or re-enrollment first. Regardless of financial need, start as early as you can. Assistance cannot be finalized until a student is admitted.
2. Then apply for assistance. Variable Tuition through SmartAid, plus any state programs you may qualify for.
3. Watch for your revised contract in April or May.
What Tuition Costs, and How You Pay It
Rates vary by grade level and by registered parishioner status, and are published annually on our Tuition and Fees page.
You will choose between a lump sum due July 15 and twelve monthly payments from June 15 through May 15, each including a 6% payment plan fee. Our tuition payment plans page walks through both.
After-school care is available at both elementary campuses for an additional fee, which is worth factoring into your planning if you need extended-day coverage.
Available at Every Campus
These programs apply across all four campuses, so a family that finds a workable number in second grade can carry that relationship through graduation.
- Holy Spirit Elementary Campus (K3–6), 8580 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36117
- St. Bede Elementary Campus (K3–6), 3850 Atlanta Highway, Montgomery, AL 36109
- Middle School Campus (7–8), 5350 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116
- High School Campus (9–12), 5350 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, AL 36116
For Military Families
We offer rolling admissions, so you can apply year-round, including summer and mid-year transfers. Our campuses are between 8.6 and 14 miles from Maxwell Air Force Base, and our teachers, faculty, and administrators have all been trained through the Military Child Education Coalition.
Talk to Someone
This is the step we most want families to take. These programs stack differently for different households, and ten minutes on the phone usually beats an hour of reading.
Julie Emerson, Director of Admissions (334) 318-3777 · jemerson@montgomerycatholic.org
Billing questions — MCPS Business Office David Schwarz · Lauren Huss · (334) 272-7220
If cost is what is holding you back, call before you decide against us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What financial aid and scholarships does Montgomery Catholic offer? Four programs: Variable Tuition, The CHOOSE Act, Alabama Accountability Act SGO scholarships, and MCPS Endowed Scholarships. Separate multi-child and registered parishioner discounts may also reduce your rate.
Does applying for financial aid affect our chances of admission? No. Admission and financial assistance are decided separately, and applying for Variable Tuition does not affect the admission or re-enrollment process.
Do we have to demonstrate hardship to apply? No. Any family, current or new, concerned about affording the full tuition rate may apply. Income, assets, unusual expenses, and family size are all considered.
Is our financial information kept private? Yes. Variable Tuition applications are confidential and are submitted to SmartAid, a third-party agency.
Will financial aid cover the full cost? No. Aid never covers 100% of tuition. Every family pays a portion, plus the $750 capital assessment fee.
Is aid available for K3 and K4? No. Financial aid is not provided to students in K3/4. Assistance becomes available in later grades.
When will we know our award? Typically, in April or May, after which a revised contract reflecting your award replaces the original.
Do non-Catholic families qualify? Yes. We welcome students and families of all faiths and creeds, and the same resources are available to every family.
Is aid available at every campus? Yes, across all four campuses, K3 through grade 12.
Is after-school care included in tuition? No. After-school care is available at both elementary campuses for an additional fee.
Next Step
The most useful thing you can do is visit. Schedule a tour at the campus you are considering, and bring your child. When you are ready to apply, our Admissions Checklist lists what you will need by grade level.
Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
Interested in funding a scholarship rather than receiving one? Our giving pages explain how benefactors support students through annual and endowed gifts.
