Understanding the Cost of a Rockhurst High School Education

Rockhurst High School, a private, Jesuit, all-boys college preparatory school in Kansas City, Missouri, has been shaping young men for over a century. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition, Rockhurst aims to develop students' minds, bodies, and souls, preparing them for the challenges of college and beyond, teaching them to do everything "ad majorem dei gloriam", which means "for the greater glory of God". This article delves into the financial aspects of a Rockhurst education, covering tuition costs, financial aid opportunities, and the overall value proposition.

The Value of a Rockhurst Education

Rockhurst challenges students with a rigorous academic program rooted in the classical Jesuit tradition. That tradition continues today through a comprehensive study of the liberal arts and a strong commitment to the Jesuit mission of service to the church and community. Rockhurst began its STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) programming in 2015.

The school emphasizes the importance of striving for the "magis," or "more," encouraging students and community members to go above and beyond the status quo. Many parents feel that “sending our sons to Rockhurst High School was one of the best gifts we could give them and one of the best investments we could make in their futures." The teachers and coaches here go above and beyond the standard for the students. "Goodness and joy emanate from the walls of Rockhurst High School. After years of teaching here, I have learned it is not the walls - it is the students.

A Rockhurst education extends well beyond the important time spent in the classroom during the school day.

Tuition and Fees for 2025-2026

Tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $16,750. In addition to tuition, there are other mandatory fees. The Lunch Program costs $1,100, and the Technology Fee is $490, bringing the total cost to $18,340.

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This total includes several benefits:

An Apple MacBook device for each incoming freshman
A student activity fee that supports pastoral, athletic, and co-curricular activities
The Quarry, Rockhurst High School's yearbook

Payment Plans

Rockhurst offers flexibility in payment options:

Annual payment
Four-payment plan (with a payment fee)
Ten-payment plan (with a payment fee)

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Understanding that a private education can be a significant investment, Rockhurst High School is committed to making it accessible to deserving students. Rockhurst does not receive public or church financial support. Rather, Rockhurst's educational mission is supported by the payment of tuition by the families of our students, by annual fundraising events, and by the generosity of our many benefactors.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, Rockhurst High School will award $2.71 million in financial assistance to more than 41% of its student body.

Applying for Financial Aid

Families seeking financial assistance are encouraged to apply online through Financial Aid Independent Review (FAIR) at www.fairapp.com.

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The financial aid application process opens on September 2, 2025, and costs $35.
The school code for Rockhurst is 120, and the school password is rhs120.
The priority deadline for financial aid applications for incoming freshmen students is December 15, 2025.

Scholarship Opportunities

Rockhurst offers several scholarship opportunities, primarily based on financial need and merit. In order to be eligible for a scholarship, your family must file for financial aid with FAIR.

HSPT Scholarships: With only the four HSPT scholarship exceptions, scholarship awards are based on financial need and merit.
President's Scholarship, Ignatian Scholarship, Regis Scholarship, and Kolvenbach Scholarship: Incoming freshmen may also qualify for these scholarships based upon their composite score on the High School Placement Test (no FAIR application required). Please note: the High School Placement Test awards are only applicable to freshman year tuition.

Tuition Discounts

Rockhurst High School also provides tuition discounts for certain families:

Sibling Discount:
- Second sibling: $750 tuition discount
- Third sibling: 50 percent tuition discount
- Additional siblings: Rockhurst's Financial Aid Committee will consider discounts on an individual basis for families who have more than three siblings enrolled concurrently.
Catholic Educator Discount: Families with a parent working full-time in a Catholic elementary or secondary school in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph or the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas qualify for a $750 tuition discount per family.

MO Scholars Scholarship Program

In the state of Missouri, students K-12 may be eligible for up to $6,375 in scholarships through a certified Educational Assistance Organization for the new MOScholars program. Donors will be able to receive special tax credits for their donations and families will be able to apply for scholarships to attend Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Kansas City-St.

Commitment to Meeting Financial Need

A cornerstone of Rockhurst’s Jesuit mission is to ensure that a family's financial circumstance is not an obstacle to an excellent, private education for their son. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Rockhurst intends to meet 100% of the exhibited financial needs of qualifying families.

David Laughlin, President, emphasizes, “at Rockhurst High School, we know how to support a young man's development to help him become the best version of himself during high school. “The increase in financial aid support allows us to expand access to a Rockhurst High School education and formation experience to any qualifying young man who desires to attend without concern regarding their economic circumstances. With the vision of David Laughlin, President, leadership of our Board of Trustees and support of generous benefactors we are more able to fully “bridge the gap” so that affordability is not a barrier.

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Understanding the Cost of Attendance

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.

Grants and Scholarships

Grants and scholarships are better than loans because students don’t ever have to pay them back. Although it’s useful to know how many students get grant aid, it’s also important to know how much grant aid people tend to receive.

Student Loans

Aside from grants, the other major way to pay for college is with student loans. The more student loan money you borrow, the more debt you’ll end up with after graduation. Ideally, you want to minimize your student debt as much as possible. It’s generally a bad sign if a school has many students taking out a lot of loans.

Net Price and Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

Finally, we get to the bottom line: what will Rockhurst University actually cost YOU? Above, we've covered Rockhurst University's Cost of Attendance (tuition, room and board, books, and more). The Net Price is the total cost minus the total aid given. In other words, this is the price you have to pay to the school out of pocket.

The US government has come up with a standardized way to calculate how much a typical family can afford to pay without help, called the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Colleges use this number as a guideline to decide how much aid to give you, but it's just a guideline.

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