Understanding Tuition Costs at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Choosing the right high school for your child is a significant decision, and understanding the financial implications is a crucial part of the process. This article provides a comprehensive overview of tuition costs, financial aid opportunities, and payment options at St. Thomas Aquinas High School (STA), a private, Catholic school located in Dover, New Hampshire.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School: An Overview

St. Thomas Aquinas High School is located in the historic New Hampshire seacoast town of Dover, NH. With a student population of approximately 420 and a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1, students are able to receive individualized support from faculty and staff. Saint Thomas Aquinas was named the #1 Private School on the Seacoast for 2017 (as recognized by Seacoast Media Group). ‭The school recently refreshed many of its ‭courses to focus on a STEAM curriculum - the ‭integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. New, rigorous course offerings such as lab-based Biotechnology, Geometry featuring computer software, and Introduction to Digital and Fine Arts prepare students interested in any subject to use advanced modern technologies. St Thomas Aquinas High School is Co-ed private day school located in New Hampshire, US. St Thomas Aquinas High School is offering 11 AP courses. St Thomas Aquinas High School also have 63% of faculties whose degrees are master and above.

The Cost of Attendance: Understanding the Sticker Price

Knowing what a school costs is Step #1 in managing college costs. The "Cost of Attendance" is the total amount of money the average student has to pay, WITHOUT any financial aid, to attend a particular school. Think of it as a school’s sticker price.

Financial Aid and Scholarships: Making STA Accessible

STA is committed to making private high school education accessible. There’s no greater feeling than knowing that you’ve made the right investment in your teen’s education. Perhaps one of the biggest considerations you’re thinking of as a parent is the cost of private high school. At STA, we’re committed to making private high school education accessible for you and your family. At Aquinas, everyone benefits from customized tuition rates designed to meet varying need levels. To apply, simply submit an application through FACTS, a confidential third-party financial evaluation company. Based on the information provided, FACTS will calculate an affordable tuition rate. Using this amount, we will customize a tuition plan with available financial aid and scholarships.

FACTS: A Third-Party Financial Evaluation

Families can apply for financial aid online through FACTS. FACTS Management works with schools to create a custom application and collect financial data so schools can make accurate award decisions based on financial need. You may log in into your FACTS user account to review the status of your application. All tuition payments must be processed through FACTS Tuition Management Company.

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Average Financial Assistance

The average financial assistance awarded to families is approximately $6,600 per year.

Scholarship Opportunities

STA offers various scholarships to support families:

The St. John Paul II Education Fund: A one-year, $500 scholarship awarded to incoming freshmen who are graduates of a Catholic elementary school. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled in a Catholic elementary school during their eighth-grade year. This scholarship is applied toward tuition for the student’s freshman year at STA and reflects our continued commitment to supporting Catholic education and strengthening the partnership between our PreK-8 Catholic schools and the STA community.
The Aquinas Honors Scholarship: The highest level of merit-based recognition awarded to incoming freshmen. This scholarship is reserved for students who demonstrate distinguished academic performance and exemplary High School Placement Test results. Recipients represent the strongest academic profile within the incoming class and are expected to continue pursuing excellence throughout their four years at STA. Recipients are notified of their scholarship award at the time of acceptance to STA. All merit-based scholarships are renewable for up to four years, provided students continue to meet the required academic standards.
The Principal’s Scholarship: Awarded to incoming freshmen who have demonstrated strong academic achievement and high performance on the High School Placement Test. This scholarship recognizes students who have shown consistent dedication to their studies and the potential to thrive in STA’s rigorous college preparatory environment. Recipients are notified of their scholarship award at the time of acceptance to STA. All merit-based scholarships are renewable for up to four years, provided students continue to meet the required academic standards.
The James L. Kiffe Memorial Scholarship: Created to provide financial support to High School students attending AHS. Applicants are eligible to receive $800 per student. Please note the James L. Kiffe Scholarship is only for Aquinas High School Students.
Diocese of Metuchen Financial Aid: The Diocese of Metuchen provides financial aid to support low-income families that send their children within our Diocesan elementary and high schools.
Diocese of Savannah Tuition Scholarships: If you are a registered and active Catholic parishioner, you may qualify for up to $2,500 in funding toward tuition at Aquinas High School. The Diocese of Savannah grants several tuition scholarships each year to eligible families. If your child is of African-American, Hispanic, or Native American descent and your family has a demonstrated financial need, you may qualify.
The Folds of Honor Foundation: Offers scholarships for children of service members who were killed in action, missing in action, Purple Heart recipients, or 90-100% disabled due to military service. The foundation also offers awards to children of first responders who were killed or disabled.

Additional Financial Aid Programs

Georgia Promise Scholarship: Qualifying families can receive up to $6,500 to use for private school tuition.
Charitable Giving Program: Through community donations, STA is able to pool funds to further our mission of making a private Catholic education at Aquinas affordable for all families.

Tuition Payment Plans and Discounts

Families can choose from five tuition payment plans to find the option that best suits their financial needs.

Sibling Discount

St. Thomas Aquinas High School is pleased to offer a sibling discount to support families with multiple students enrolled. A $1,000 tuition discount is applied per student after the first enrolled student, while all students are concurrently enrolled at STA. The discount remains in effect each year that multiple siblings are attending the school at the same time and is applied annually to eligible students’ tuition.

Future Trojans Referral Program

St. Thomas Aquinas High School is proud to reinstate The Future Trojans Referral Program, designed to reward members of our One Trojan Family who help grow our community. To qualify, the referring family must be identified on the incoming student’s enrollment paperwork at the time of submission. Only one referral may be referenced per newly enrolled student in the Class of 2030. The $1,000 tuition credit is a one-time award, applies to the upcoming school year only, and does not carry over to future years.

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Payment Options

All families MUST be registered on FACTS Tuition Management. One annual payment of tuition through FACTS Tuition Management assessed on August 1. Monthly payments through FACTS Tuition Management. Monthly payments will begin in June for returning students. Any newly enrolled student’s payment will begin in June or at the time of their enrollment, whichever comes later.

e-Funds: Aquinas Catholic Schools is pleased to offer you e~Funds for Schools. This program offers various options for parents/guardians wanting to make payments online, and it is extremely user friendly.

Consequences of Delinquent Accounts

In the event that your automatic payment through FACTS Tuition Management is declined, the following fees will be imposed:

First failed attempt - $30 fee to FACTS, $25 fee to AHS.
Second failed attempt (15 days in arrears) - $30 fee to FACTS.
Third failed attempt (30 days in arrears) - $30 fee to FACTS.

In the event that your account becomes delinquent, AHS will take the following actions: At 30 days - Communication with the business office.

Students withdrawing during the first two weeks of a semester will be charged 50% tuition for the semester in which they withdrew. After the two-week period, tuition will be charged up to the end of the semester in which they withdrew.

Understanding Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The US government has come up with a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help. As an example, a family that brings home $80,000 in income before taxes, with no assets and no other children in college, has an EFC of around $7,000. Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you, but it's just a guideline. So we're going to calculate your EFC and compare it to Aquinas's Net Price. If the Net Price is higher than the EFC, the school will cost more than you can typically afford.

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Continuous Enrollment Contract

Aquinas utilizes a continuous enrollment (CE) model. Families will sign one continuous enrollment contract that will continue from admission until graduation. The Continuous Enrollment Contract can be terminated prior to a student’s graduation by (1) the School or (2) the Responsible Party(ies) by providing written notice to the school. Any written notification needs to be made prior to February 15.

Additional Programs and Opportunities

Scrip Program

Did you know items you buy every day (gas, groceries, clothing, and restaurant purchases) can earn a rebate towards your ACS tuition? Purchase a scrip card through your parish or online to start earning your rebate. Be sure to use scrip this upcoming holiday season.

Transportation

Aquinas Catholic Schools will continue to partner with Luther High School for the 2023-2024 school year to serve students who do not have access to public school transportation. These buses serve students from Winona, Holmen, Tomah, Lewiston, Genoa, and points between. The buses are chartered through Go Riteway (608-881-6370).

St. Aquinas Middle and High School: Onalaska may provide service from and to St Patrick Elementary for any Aquinas MS/HS student.

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