FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid is available to new and returning students enrolled in TK-12th grades to help with tuition costs. Financial aid is not available for our preschool or home education programs. The Financial Aid Program's primary goal is to assist existing families experiencing a temporary reduction of income due to job loss or illness. Any remaining funds may be awarded to additional families who demonstrate a financial need. Aid is issued annually, and a new application must be submitted each year no earlier than February 1 and no later than April 30. New families can apply for financial aid from February 1 until August 1. Financial aid is limited to tuition and does not cover registration and material fees, books, sports, or activity fees.
Families may fill out and submit the FACTS online application through the DCS website to apply for financial aid. FACTS is a third-party vendor used by DCS to process financial aid applications and collect financial data from applicants. Award decisions are not made by FACTS but by the DCS Financial Aid Committee. FACTS requires a $45 application fee and will request additional documentation, including tax returns and supporting documents, which will need to be mailed, faxed, or uploaded.
The DCS Financial Aid Committee will start looking at completed financial aid applications beginning on May 1, and families will be notified by email by the end of May. Families will then have ten days to complete and return their Financial Aid Covenant. Failure to complete the Financial Aid Covenant will result in the cancelation of the awarded financial aid.
Click here to apply for Financial Aid.
Please review the following FAQs.
Q: Does my student need to be currently enrolled at DCS to be considered for financial aid?
A: Yes, current students need to be completely re-enrolled before being considered for Financial Aid funds for the 2024/2025 school year. New families will need to have applied and completed an educational consultation or family meeting with the appropriate campus principal. New students need to have a 2.5 or higher grade point average (GPA) to be considered for financial aid. Re-enrolling students will need to have completed the re-enrollment process and have a 2.5 or higher GPA to be considered for financial aid.
Q: What happens if my student is awarded financial aid and their GPA falls below 2.5?
A: If a student fails to maintain a 2.5 GPA, the financial aid board will meet and decide if the student can remain on financial aid. Once the student has met the 2.5 GPA requirement, Financial Aid may only be awarded if the school has remaining funds available.
Financial Aid awards will be forfeited if your student does not adhere to the standards of conduct in the handbook for parents. Students must contribute to the positive Christian culture of the school.
Q: What else is expected of us as a family if we are awarded financial aid?
A: Families on financial aid are asked to be part of the DCS community and support the school by volunteering their time throughout the year. Families are expected to support the school's policies and encourage their students to follow them. They are also expected to speak positively and support the school, staff, faculty, and programs.
Q: Why do you offer financial aid?
A: DCS desires to assist families who may have a temporary financial loss due to illness or economic downfall. Also, many families desire a DCS education but may not have the means to pay for the entire tuition amount.
Q: Where do funds for financial aid come from?
A: Funds available for financial aid are allocated from the school budget, provided by generous donors, and raised through various fundraising efforts.
Q: Do you offer "Full Rides" to DCS?
A: A DCS education is very valuable, and most families can make a sacrifice and financial contribution to attend. Therefore, we do not offer “full rides”.
Q: Is financial aid a loan, and does it have to be paid back?
A: No. A financial aid award reduces your total amount of tuition due. It does not have to be repaid.
Q: How do we know if we will qualify for financial aid?
A: Awards are determined by a family's ability, not willingness, to pay. There is no certain income level that determines eligibility. Income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and the number of people in the household are all considered.
Q: Am I required to request financial aid every year?
A: Yes, you must file a new application every year. Re-enrolling students need to apply for financial aid each year between February 1 and April 30. Your Federal tax returns are required to complete the financial aid application process through FACTS. Each family is distinctive in its financial situation, and economic circumstances rarely remain static. DCS will consider each family's unique situation every year and make an annual decision on financial aid. In general, families are limited to a maximum of four years of financial assistance. Late payments and failure to keep your account current during the previous school year will factor in whether continuing financial aid is awarded.
If the reduced tuition rate is not kept current, the discount becomes void that month, and full tuition will be charged.
Q: Since we received some financial aid in the past, can we count on the same amount in the future?
A: While DCS will consider your financial aid from the previous year, each year is evaluated independently based on the current financial situation. There is no guarantee that your assistance will remain the same from year to year.
Q: What about fees and other expenses? Can those be taken from my financial aid award?
A: If awarded, financial aid funds are applied only towards tuition. Families are still responsible for all other expenses, including registration and material fees, books, meals, optional student trips, and extracurricular fees (i.e., athletics fees), and should plan accordingly.
Q: We have a split or blended family; do both parents need to apply to FACTS?
A: Yes. All parents related to the student need to submit their information to FACTS. If parents do not reside in the same household, they must submit two separate financial aid applications.
Q: Is my information safe and confidential?
A: Yes. Only those on the Financial Aid Committee and FACTS will have access to your personal financial information.
The Financial Aid Application for the 2024/2025 School Year will open on February 1, 2024.
Any additional questions can be emailed to hwelch@desertchristian.com.