Tuition Assistance Policy

Mount Saint Joseph Academy Tuition Assistance Policy

Founded in 1858, Mount Saint Joseph Academy is a Catholic college preparatory school" for grades 9 through 12 that seeks to empower young women to realize their fullest potential. The non-profit school is an IRS recognized Section 501(c)(3) organization. The Mount is a sponsored work of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia.

Introduction to the Policy

The Mount offers tuition assistance for new and existing MSJA families in order to provide qualified young women with the opportunity to experience a Mount education. 

Tuition Assistance is available beginning with freshman year. Tuition Assistance awards are based upon the financial information provided in a completed tuition assistance application. All tuition assistance applications are processed electronically. The Mount uses services provided by FAST.com for collecting and processing the application related data and documents. The use of this secure portal helps to ensure that the confidential information provided as part of the application process is treated securely and privately. The FAST service can be accessed through the Mount website. From the main page, select admissions/ tuition and tuition assistance.

Families are also encouraged to file their tax returns prior to submitting their tuition assistance application and certainly prior to the application deadline. Final tuition assistance award decisions cannot be made until the Mount has received and verified the parents’ tax returns as filed with the IRS (done through FAST). Award decisions for incoming freshmen will be communicated in late November for the following school year that begins the following fall. Award decisions for returning students will be confirmed in late January for the school year that begins teh following fall. All tuition assistance information is kept strictly confidential. We request that families receiving tuition assistance respect the confidentiality of the process as well.

Sources for Tuition Assistance Funding

MSJA’s Board of Directors (the Board) approves the policy governing the tuition assistance. As part of the annual budget process, the Board approves the total value of the tuition assistance to be extended to student families. The Board reserves the right to revisit the policies and implementation of tuition assistance at any time deemed appropriate. The Mount does not grant educational loans.

Tuition Assistance is primarily supported by the Mount Saint Joseph Academy Endowment Funds, the Mount Saint Joseph Academy Middle Income Tuition Assistance Program, the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC/OSTC) program as well as several Foundation/ Family grant programs.

Tuition Assistance Qualification Overview

The criteria used to determine the tuition assistance awards are based upon the evaluation of an admitted student’s family financial resources to pay the full tuition and fees to attend MSJA. 

In accordance with equal opportunity standards, awards are made without regard to a student’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability or age and in compliance with existing state and federal law or regulations. The tuition assistance program information will be made available to current and prospective students. Information about the program and how to apply will be posted on MSJA’s website, included in academic program brochures, and distributed at open house events.

An internal Committee has been established to oversee and administer the tuition assistance program, consisting of the Mount President, Director of Admissions and Chief Financial Officer.

MSJA recognizes that the primary responsibility for financing a student’s education rests with her family. A family is defined as consisting of both natural parents of the applicant, any stepparent, plus any children from the original marriage along with any children born during the current marriage. As a result, both parents must provide the information that is requested on the FAST online application. MSJA will not be necessarily bound by an informal assertion of a parent that they are not legally responsible for educational expenses. MSJA will retain the sole discretion to determine on a case-by-case basis whether the financial circumstances of a divorced parent justify MSJA providing tuition assistance.

In accordance with recommended and best practice guidelines from FAST, MSJA assumes that both parents in a two-parent household that apply for tuition assistance are employed. Exceptions include families with children not yet of school age, other dependents in the home requiring full-time care, or a documented physical or health problem that prevents gainful employment. If one parent is not employed, and there are no extenuating circumstances, the Committee will use the FAST guidelines for imputing income for this parent. Any necessary childcare costs will also be assumed. If multiple children attend tuition-charging schools, it is expected that the family will apply for tuition assistance at all schools. MSJA does not expect to subsidize tuition at other schools or colleges.

Tuition assistance is offered to a family for the purpose of providing tuition assistance only. It does not reduce any other costs associated with attending MSJA, including Parents’ Association dues, trip fees, laptop computer costs, after school activities. Please contact the Admissions Office if you would like a breakdown of likely additional fees.

Tuition Assistance awards for students attending MSJA in the year the application is submitted are contingent upon the student successfully completing the school year and the payment in full of all other financial obligations set forth in the Enrollment Agreement for the year. For students not currently attending MSJA, MSJA's Enrollment Agreement authorizes MSJA to contact the applicant's school to determine the applicant's successful completion of the school year and the financial status of the student's account.

Tuition Award Determinations

With careful consideration of the Mount’s tuition assistance budget, the Committee will review the FAST analysis of each family’s expected financial contribution and other submitted documents.

After considering all timely applications, the Committee will determine the award amounts. The Committee does utilize the FAST output to support the assessments; however, final award decisions reside with the Committee. Current salary, net worth, savings, assets and family circumstances will all be considered when determining the awards. Tuition assistance awards are made with the assumption that the family is allocating the maximum resources within its capacity to fund their child’s or children’s education. It is expected that each family has prioritized educational costs after necessary living expenses.

Hardship Contingency

Tuition assistance decisions apply only to the year for which an application and supporting documentation are submitted. If there are significant changes in a family’s financial situation, MSJA will do what it can to support the student remaining at MSJA. At the same time, MSJA expects a family in this situation to make other adjustments to their family expenses, in addition to seeking tuition assistance, to help cover the cost of tuition. Likewise, when a family’s situation improves significantly, MSJA reserves the right to adjust the tuition assistance award to reflect the improved financial stance of the family.

A family may experience an extenuating circumstance resulting in an unexpected need for financial assistance. These issues may arise after the application deadline has passed. Those who wish to apply for a hardship contingency should follow the same tuition assistance guidelines and process. Although the Mount is notified of a completed application from FAST, we would also suggest contacting the Finance Office directly.

The Committee reserves the right to review extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis. It is the responsibility of both parents to ensure that MSJA receives payment for tuition and fees.

Tuition Assistance Award Terms

Families will be notified of their awards for the next academic year only if their current tuition balance is current. Tuition assistance cannot be applied toward any tuition or unpaid fees from prior years. Tuition assistance applicants must still pay the enrollment deposit when submitting the enrollment or re-enrollment contract.

Families who are notified of a tuition assistance award must accept or decline the award within two weeks of notification. If the family fails to comply with this acceptance notification and other reasonable requirements, the Committee reserves the right to grant the award to another applicant. 

Awards will not be automatically renewed for subsequent years. Every year, families must complete the required application and provide the necessary documentation demonstrating need to be considered for tuition assistance. We believe that this creates the best opportunity to ensure the available tuition assistance is provided equitably.

Families may appeal a tuition assistance decision or award amount, within 30 days from the date of the Tuition Assistance Award letter or date of the event precipitating the appeal, if they can provide supplemental information to the Tuition assistance Committee pertinent to the award computation. 

Tuition assistance awards are credited to the student’s account at the beginning of the billing cycle of an academic year assuming all necessary documentation has been received. The most frequent reason for upper class tuition assistance not being credited to the student account is a missing verified recent tax return. Grants will be credited to the student account in accordance with notification received from the respective grant program office.

Tuition Assistance Appeal Requirements 

Appeals can be submitted by parents who are requesting tuition assistance in excess of what has already been awarded due to extenuating circumstances, that might include:

• Student Illness

• Serious illness of immediate family member

• Death of immediate family member

• Change in parental employment

• Verifiable Error by the Academy

• Other – provide detailed account of the extenuating circumstance

Please include the appropriate third-party documentation and as much detail as reasonable to support the appeal.