What are the deadlines for the FACTS application?
How is financial aid awarded?
Financial eligibility is determined by the monetary guidelines established by the state of Pennsylvania for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program in association with the materials submitted in the application process through FACTS Tuition Management System.
Students are generally eligible for OLSH financial aid if their family household incomes are less than $108,444 plus $19,088 for each dependent child in the family in 2023-2024.
Aid packages vary on individual circumstances and can range up to 75% of the cost of tuition. The 75% aid packages are awarded based on availability of funding to assist those with the highest demonstrated need. Additional aid packages of up to 60%, 50% or 45% will be provided based on the financial needs of the enrolling student body. Families who wish to be considered for the maximum 75% aid award MUST submit their application by the deadlines listed above.
Is financial assistance automatically renewed each year?
No. OLSH requires families who receive or are seeking financial assistance to reapply each year. As long as the student remains at our school, financial assistance will be renewed each year according to demonstrated need and if the family has met all of the filing deadlines.
Changes in circumstances such as income, family status, and the number of children attending OLSH may result in increases or decreases in an award. However, unless there is a significant change in either a family's economic status or the budgetary status of the school, awards are frequently renewed at the previous year's amount. Each application is reviewed annually.
Do I have to reapply every year for financial aid?
Should I apply for tuition assistance before I know if my child has been admitted?
Yes. If you do not apply for assistance by the published deadlines, your chance of receiving financial assistance is significantly reduced. Please do not wait for acceptance from our school to apply for aid, as it may be too late.
I have not made a decision yet on my child's high school destination. How do I ensure I do not lose my aid package?
I never do my taxes until close to the April 15 deadline. How will this affect my financial assistance award?
Will a change in my family’s financial circumstances during the school year change the financial assistance award?
If your circumstances change after you submit your application, please contact the Business Office. The OLSH Financial Aid committee will review the situation, and awards will be based on your demonstrated need and our available resources.
Is it possible to appeal the aid package awarded to my family?
Yes. To appeal your financial aid package, please contact the OLSH Business Office. An in-person meeting may be scheduled or you may be asked to collect more information or documentation to support your request for additional aid.
We didn’t qualify for financial aid in elementary school, might we qualify now?
Do you offer a discount if we have multiple children enrolled at OLSH?
We have children attending other private schools where we also receive aid. Do we still need to apply for aid at OLSH?
Yes. Even if you are applying for aid at another school, you will still need to submit an application through FACTS for OLSH. However, if your other children are attending a school that also utilizes FACTS for awarding aid, you can log-in to OLSH FACTS login page using your pre-existing username and password and simply add OLSH to your account. This will enable you to submit one application to all eligible schools. For assistance linking multiple schools to your account, please call FACTS 24/7 Customer Service at 1-866-441-4637.
Tuition paid to other private schools and college is taken into consideration when determining the level of aid awarded from OLSH. OLSH does not consider tuition paid for children beyond the undergraduate level (such as masters and doctoral degrees) when determining eligibility for aid.
Does my child qualify for free/reduced lunches if we receive financial aid?
No. OLSH is not currently able to offer free or reduced lunches to our students. However, occasionally donors come forward to assist families with lunch account payments. In order to be eligible for any potential funding, you must have a completed financial aid application on file AND be making consistent tuition payments throughout the year.
Does my financial aid award cover costs other than tuition (such as the AAC Fee, Graduation Fee, participation fees for sports or activities, lunch, etc.)?
No. Any financial aid awarded is applied solely to the total tuition amount for each family.
Are there other sources of aid for which I can qualify beyond OLSH’s aid package?
Diocesan Bishop's Education Fund: Application due March 15
The Diocese of Pittsburgh's Bishop's Education Fund (BEF) program is independent of the OLSH tuition assistance program. BEF monies are available for families applying to OLSH who are registered members of a Catholic parish within the Diocese of Pittsburgh. These monies are available on a first-come, first-served basis from the Diocese, and are typically awarded over the summer.
To apply for BEF monies, complete your FACTS application for OLSH as normal, indicating your intent to apply for BEF where listed in the application. Be sure to also complete the Pastor Verification Form, have your pastor sign the form, and submit it to the OLSH Business Office as soon as possible.
The Children’s Scholarship Fund: Application due May 31
Students who live within the boundaries of a low-achieving school are eligible to receive funds from the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program through The Children’s Scholarship Fund of Pennsylvania (CSFP). The low-achieving schools are determined annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and can be viewed on their website Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Program (pa.gov).
The amounts awarded through CSFP vary from year to year but have historically ranged from 20-30% of a student’s remaining balance after other financial aid was applied. The OLSH Business Office will notify families when the application period is open, and it is the responsibility of the family to submit necessary paperwork to the program.
Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania (JA): Application due Spring
Students participating in a JA program are eligible to apply for special scholarships offered by JA. OLSH students may join the JA Volunteers group at OLSH which travels to local elementary schools to teach JA lessons. OLSH also offers a JA class to students in the spring. Learn more about Junior Achievement.
The Crossroads Foundation: Application opens October
OLSH is a host high school for Crossroads Foundation Scholars. This program provides financial and academic support to students demonstrating potential and financial need. Learn more about the Crossroads Foundation.
Other Opportunities
Additional aid may be available through other local non-profit organizations including the Knights of Columbus, The Kyle B. Wilson Foundation, and the The Poise Foundation. For more information on these programs please visit their websites. Please note that additional scholarships may be available through other organizations such as your parish, elementary school, American Legion, and others.
What payment plans are available?
When is the first payment due?
Does OLSH charge additional fees beyond the cost of tuition?
Individual sports and activities may change participation fees or require fundraising, as needed.
Can I make smaller payments until I receive my tax return monies in March?
When is the final payment due?
What is the cost of tuition?
OLSH tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $12,500. Each spring the OLSH Board of Directors reevaluates the tuition amount, with regard to the proposed school budget and inflation. A family grant is available for subsequent children enrolled in the school.
Is my family required to fundraise?
No, OLSH does not have a fundraising requirement. However, families are encouraged to participate in annual giving through the student-led Charger Challenge fundraising campaign, which helps to offset costs for the current academic year. Individual sports teams, extracurricular groups, and school activities or special events may also choose to require fundraising, as needed.