Scholarships and Financial Aid

Tuition Assistance
Salesianum annually awards approximately $700,000 in tuition assistance. While part of this amount is awarded as four year academic scholarships to outstanding performers on the entrance and placement exam, by far the larger part of tuition assistance goes to students as need based grants.

Salesianum does not offer scholarships or Financial Aid based upon a student's athletic ability.

Academic Scholarships
Four year academic scholarships are awarded to the top thirty incoming freshmen’s score on the December Placement Test. Each student awarded an academic scholarship must maintain a quarterly GPA of at least 3.00 and not be placed on disciplinary probation for any reason. If a student fails to maintain a 3.00 GPA or is placed on disciplinary probation, he will receive two warnings; if he misses either of the standards three times during his career at Salesianum, he will forfeit his scholarship.

Financial Aid
Choosing to send your son to Salesianum is an investment in his future. We are committed to assisting you in this choice.

Salesianum understands that the cost of an excellent program such as ours may seem beyond the means of some parents who want their son to receive an education within the Catholic Church, and we are committed to making this experience affordable to all qualified students.
The tuition and fees that we charge pay only a portion of the actual annual cost of a Salesianum education. The difference is met by income from grants, donations, and investment income. Financial Aid is based on demonstrated need and is granted to families who are unable to afford the full tuition.

How is the family's contribution calculated?
SSS, a third-party financial aid service, provides an estimated family contribution report to Salesianum based on factors such as household income and expenses, number of children in tuition charging schools and colleges, as well as assets and debts. With guidance from the SSS's nationally standardized analysis system and information from the federal income tax returns, the Financial Aid committee makes adjustments given case-by-case family information and Salesianum specific Financial Aid policies.

How is financial need determined?
The cost of tuition minus the family's contribution represents the family's need. Academic scholarships, if awarded, will be factored into the financial need calculation, as well as any outside awards and/or grants. All families are required to invest something toward their son's education.

Can I apply for Financial Aid if my son has been awarded an academic scholarship?
Yes. The amount of the scholarship will be included in the calculation to determine need, but it is possible to receive Financial Aid in addition to the scholarship.

When and how do I apply?

• November - Financial Aid forms are available from the school. Forms will be mailed to all students who have previously received Financial Aid as well as to incoming student applicants who have requested them. Parents can also apply online by clicking here.
  
  
• 2nd Sunday in November - Admissions Open House. A presentation is given about the Financial Aid application and decision making process, followed by a question and answer session. Current families as well as applicant (new student) families are encouraged to attend.
  
  
• November 29 - Financial Aid workshop. This workshop will be held at Salesianum at 5:30 PM.
  
  
• December 15 - Financial Aid applications (Parents' Financial Statement) due at School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).
  
  
• April 30 - Federal Income Tax form 1040 and related documents due at the Student Finances Office at Salesianum School.

In order to be considered for Financial Aid, it is critical to meet the December 15 deadline.

Is Financial Aid automatically renewed?
No. Parents requesting Financial Aid must reapply each year. Also, to be considered for further assistance, each student receiving Financial Aid must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.25, must contribute positively to the school community, and must demonstrate positive social behavior.

Do I have to repay the grant?
No. Financial Aid is an outright grant used to offset the cost of tuition and does not have to be paid back.

Financial Aid Policy
Salesianum School offers Financial Aid to families with demonstrated need. While the cost of education is ultimately the responsibility of the family, Salesianum encourages families to apply for Financial Aid if they feel they cannot afford the full tuition.

To apply for Financial Aid, parents must submit a Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) with the appropriate fee to School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) no later than December 15. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of submitting the forms on time.

If a parent, stepparent and/or legal guardian is a partial or full owner of a business or farm, he or she must complete the Business/Farm Statement. The form is available from the Student Finances Office or online from SSS and the completed form should be returned directly to the Student Finances Office by the filing deadline of December 15. Do NOT send the Business/Farm Statement to SSS.

In cases of divorce or separation, Salesianum requires natural parents, stepparents and/or legal guardians to complete a Parents' Financial Statement (PFS). While Salesianum is aware that difficulties may exist in these cases and makes a special effort to consider all possible situations, the Financial Aid Committee considers both natural parents' or legal guardians' ability to contribute to tuition expenses. If either natural parent remarries, Salesianum takes into account the contributions the stepparent(s) makes to the household(s). The financial obligations a stepparent has to his or her natural children and other family members is taken into account in the evaluation. Salesianum's position is that the stepparents' resources and expenses become a part of the family's total financial picture.

In the case of no support from, or contact with, a non-custodial parent, the Financial Aid Committee requires written verification of the situation by a counselor, legal advisor, social worker, or member of the clergy.

When completing the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS), please read the directions carefully so that neither SSS nor Salesianum rejects your PFS. Salesianum follows the SSS recommended practices for allowing and disallowing expenses on the PFS forms. All allowances are listed on the SSS guide for filing. Be sure to explain all circled entries completely; if no explanation is provided, the entry(ies) will be disallowed, which may significantly impact the amount of assistance, if any, awarded.

SSS processes the information from the PFS and forwards a Report of Family Contribution (RFC) to Salesianum. When the Student Finances Office has received all the appropriate materials, the Financial Aid Committee begins its evaluation. During the evaluation process, the Committee may change SSS calculations, depending on expenses that have been claimed and explanations of unusual circumstances. The Committee reviews all completed applications and notifies each qualified family of a preliminary award by the end of January.

Salesianum recommends that all families request from SSS when filing their application, a copy of the Report of Family Contribution - Family Report for their information. This report is a summary of the information SSS provides to Salesianum. This is not a statement of a Financial Aid award. Notification of any award will come directly from Salesianum as stated above.

Because the preliminary awards are made based on estimated information, the Financial Aid Committee verifies actual income and expenses by reviewing the 1040 tax return (including all attached schedules), all W-2 forms, and business statements, if necessary. Therefore, copies of all 2007 income tax information must be delivered to the Student Finances Office at Salesianum School no later than April 30, 2008. The Financial Aid Committee will use the forms to adjust the estimated information provided on the PFS and preliminary award, if necessary. Families will be notified of any adjustments by mid-May. If you do not submit your tax return to Salesianum, the preliminary award will not be granted.

Please be assured that all applications, tax forms, W-2's and related financial information are kept in the strictest confidence.

Questions/Comments?
Contact our Student Finances Office at 302-654-2495 x 124, fax us at 302-654-7767, or email us studentfinances@salesianum.org.