Tuition and Fees

The In-Parish tuition rate is available to all Catholic families who are active members of The Basilica of Saint Mary parish. For purposes of school registration or tuition rates, an “active parishioner” is defined as someone who has formally registered in the parish, received a parish ID and is an active participant in parish life which also includes financial contributions to the parish through the use of an established regular e-giving plan in Faith Direct* or parish issued envelopes that have your parish ID noted on them (at least 26 per year April -April). The Pastor of The Basilica of Saint Mary parish determines parish status. The Basilica School of Saint Mary defers to the Pastor or his representative at the parish for examination of records to determine the membership of a family and their participation in parish life.

• If you live within the parish boundaries and are a registered, active member of the parish (see above requirement), in parish rates are automatic and then reviewed each year.

• If you live outside the parish boundaries you must be a registered and active Basilica of Saint Mary parish member for a period of one year (as of April 1) before you may be eligible for in parish rates. Please contact the parish office for details on registration requirements.

Recently transferred military families have the opportunity for an exemption to the 1 year parish member requirement in order to receive in parish tuition rates, provided they register with The Basilica of Saint Mary and are an active parishioner as outlined above.

Tuition status is reviewed each year. During our annual review, registered Basilica School of Saint Mary Parishioner Families, who have not met the guidelines for in parish tuition rates during the previous calendar year, will be charged the out of parish tuition rate for the upcoming school year. Tuition status will not change during a school year; changes will be made for the following year and remain in place for the entire school year. If a family becomes a parish member and has met the requirements, they will be moved to in parish rates for the following school year.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the The Basilica of Saint Mary parish, please visit the parish website at: www.stmaryoldtown.org.

If a parent is registered at The Basilica of Saint Mary and the children are non-Catholic, the parent must pay the non-Catholic tuition rate.

*Electronic giving with Faith Direct: Please consider enrolling in a regular e-giving plan via Faith Direct. Faith Direct allows you as a parishioner to make your Church contributions through either direct debit from your checking/savings account or through your credit/debit card. No more writing checks or searching for envelopes on the way out the door. Now you can apply the convenience of direct debit to your parish offerings in much the same way as you may now use it to make your mortgage, car or tuition payments. Faith Direct also offers you personalized offertory cards to replace your envelopes for the collection basket. To enroll securely online, please visit www.faithdirect.net. Our parish code is VA713. Please be sure to review your Faith Direct account from time to time to ensure that it is processing on the schedule you have chosen.

What types of aid are available?

The types of financial aid available are listed below. When you submit your application in FACTS, you are automatically applying for all the categories listed below which apply to your family.  

Basilica School of Saint Mary Tuition Assistance 

Funding for this program is provided by assistance from The Basilica School of Saint Mary, monies donated and designated as scholarship funding, and grants designated for scholarships.  

Eligibility Criteria

• Students and accepted students of The Basilica School of Saint Mary

• Pre-K students are not eligible

Qualification
Qualifications are determined at the school level based on the analysis of information submitted in your FACTS Grant & Aid Application and letter to the Financial Aid Committee.

 

Barry Ford Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria 
The scholarship is awarded to a Catholic African American student who is a student or accepted student of The Basilica School of Saint Mary and demonstrates a financial need for tuition.    

Diocesan Aid 
Information on Diocesan Aid can be found here.

How do I apply? 

1. Submit the FACTS Grant & Aid Online Application found here.  There is a $40 processing fee. 
2. Submit a letter to the school, addressed to the Financial Aid Committee that outlines your need. Please send the letter in an email to our school bookkeeper at rmalvaso@smsva.org.

Due Date: March 15, 2023

 

Will my personal information be kept private?

Yes. The Basilica School of Saint Mary keeps all personal information confidential. Information is evaluated by our Financial Aid Committee, where Confidentiality Statements have been secured.  At the school level, the information is reviewed only by the Principal, Pastor, Bookkeeper, and Parish Finance Director.  

How will I find out if I receive an award?

Families receiving awards will receive a letter from us (emailed in May) with one total amount which includes all of the aid received from each of the categories of aid.

Awards are made for one academic year and are based on each family’s demonstrated financial need. Once these final award decisions have been made, the school will then credit the tuition accounts of approved families.

Families must reapply each year as awards are not carried over year over year.

The Basilica School of Saint Mary's tuition program is administered by FACTS Tuition Management Services. All families are to have a FACTS account, with a payment plan selected and is linked to a form of payment (credit card or bank account). Should you choose to link your account to a credit card please note that FACTS assesses a 2.85% processing fee. The account set up is not complete until the payment plan is selected and it is linked to a form of payment. Once these accounts are set up, The Basilica School of Saint Mary will enter the tuition/fee amounts. You may choose to pay your tuition in one lump sum on June 1 or opt for the 12 month payment plan. Families taking advantage of the 12 month payment plan option will be charged a $55 fee from FACTS (no fee if paying up front).FACTS will charge a $30 fee for any returned payments (NSF). The first withdraw for all families will be collected on June 1 and all subsequent withdrawals will be taken on the date you selected as part of your payment plan.

If tuition payments have been erratic, we reserve the right to request tuition payment in full at the start of the school year.

If tuition payment is not current by the end of the first semester, children may not return for the second semester until their tuition is brought up-to-date.

Eighth grade students, whose tuition payments are not current, will not receive their report card and graduation certificate. In addition, transcripts will not be forwarded to their chosen high school until their tuition account is cleared.

Tuition is withdrawn over 12 months starting in June for each academic year. If you notify us of your student’s withdrawal before the 15^th of the month, future tuition payments will not be due. If notification occurs after the 15^th of the month the following months’ tuition will be due regardless of whether your student is enrolled in that month. Once a month has started the tuition for the full month is due no matter how many days your student is enrolled that month. This notification timeline includes summer months and begins in May as tuition is withdrawn starting in June.

If a student withdraws at any point after March 1st, all remaining annual tuition is due. Transcripts will not be provided until these financial obligations are met.

Email notification to Mr. Robert Loia, Principal, is required and a withdrawal form must be completed (this will be sent to you after Mr. Loia has received your notification email). Mr. Loia can be reached at rloia@smsva.org. Tuition must be current and up to date before the withdrawal process can begin. The first month tuition, registration fees, acceptance fees, book/technology fees, tuition deposit, extended day registration fees, milk fees; financial aid and scholarships are non-refundable. There is no tuition refund for students expelled for disciplinary reasons.