Variable Tuition

 2024-2025 Variable Tuition Rates will be posted in February of 2024 following board approval.

Full and Variable Tuition rates have already been reduced by the New 2 You Grant; as recipients of this grant, parents are strongly encouraged to volunteer at New 2 You.

Variable Tuition allows families to apply for a reduced tuition rate that is based on their family’s unique financial situation. While every family is expected to contribute to the cost of tuition and to support our schools in some way, the Variable Tuition program offers families an appropriate tuition level, making a quality Christian school education accessible for more families within our community.

By making a Grand Rapids Christian education more financially possible, we will have the opportunity to fully utilize our exceptional staff and outstanding facilities and bring a rich diversity of students and families to our schools.

Any family (current or new) of a kindergarten through 12th grade student may apply for variable tuition if they are concerned about affording the full tuition rate.

Many factors are considered when determining the tuition amount a family is able to pay, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family and are reviewed by a third party: FACTS Grant & Aid. 

Families who do not apply for variable tuition pay full tuition.

Variable Tuition only applies to students in kindergarten through 12th grade.  If you only have children enrolling in preschool at GRCS, you should not apply for Variable Tuition.

If you are enrolling a preschool student in addition to older students in K-12, you may apply for Variable Tuition.  We will consider your preschool tuition as part of your family’s financial profile when we determine your Variable Tuition rate.

All Variable Tuition applications must be submitted online to FACTS Grant & Aid. There is a $40 fee to apply. Click HERE to begin the FACTS Grand & Aid Application.  Or contact a member of the Admissions Team for more information or questions on how to apply.

Family circumstances range widely. While some families can afford only minimal tuition, others can afford to pay around the midpoint or almost at the top of the tuition level. Many factors are evaluated, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family. 

No. An application for Variable Tuition does not affect the re-enrollment or admissions process. Regardless of financial need, parents should initiate the process as early as possible. 

Because the formula used to calculate variable tuition considers many factors, it is not possible to estimate the tuition level for which a family qualifies without the completion of a Variable Tuition application. Applications are submitted directly to FACTS, a third-party agency. FACTS evaluates the application based on criteria set by the school and makes a recommendation to the school’s Variable Tuition team. Families are notified of the tuition level for which they qualify by the school’s finance office. 

No. You may apply for Variable Tuition before you apply for admission. However, we do recommend that you complete the Online Inquiry Form either before or soon after you apply for Variable Tuition. This will alert our Admissions Team to your interest in Grand Rapids Christian Schools so that we can be watching for your Variable Tuition application to come to us from FACTS. 

Additionally, a member of our Admissions Team will be happy to walk you through all the steps of the admissions process,

Please note that applications must be fully completed, and all supporting documents must be submitted to FACTS in order for applications to be released to GRCS for review. 

Variable Tuition award letters will be emailed to families beginning in February after our tuition rates have been finalized for the next year. If your application was complete and all documentation submitted to FACTS by February 1, you will receive your variable tuition award letter during the week of February 15. If you apply after February 1, you will receive your award letter approximately two weeks after Grand Rapids Christian Schools receives your financial profile from FACTS. Responses to families will fall into three categories: an offer of Variable Tuition, notification that a family does not qualify for Variable Tuition, or notice that the family is waitlisted for Variable Tuition.

A waitlist designation means that a family will be considered for Variable Tuition if additional funding becomes available. 

Grand Rapids Christian Schools is blessed to partner with many area churches who provide significant tuition support to their families.  As in previous years, you should apply to your church first. Your church uses the full tuition amount when determining the amount of assistance they will provide. 

Calvin College also provides tuition support to their employees. You should apply to Calvin first. They base their award on the full tuition amount.

Families who only want to receive financial aid from their church or from Calvin, do not need to apply for variable tuition through Grand Rapids Christian.

If you believe you will need support in addition to the award from your church or Calvin, you may also apply for Variable Tuition by submitting an application through FACTS.

Applying to your church or Calvin first, simply means that we will need to know your church or Calvin award before we can determine if you qualify for an even lower variable tuition rate through GRCS.

Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to offer variable tuition to every student who qualifies for both admission and reduced tuition. We work within our available resources to make GRCS accessible to as many students and families as possible. However, a student may be admitted to GRCS but waitlisted for variable tuition.

Yes. A family that does not qualify this year is welcome to reapply the following year. 

Yes. A new application must be submitted every year. 

If you have not received your variable tuition rate from GRCS or financial aid award from your church prior to the opt out date, you have two weeks from the time you receive the award to notify Grand Rapids Christian Schools of your desire to opt out of continuous enrollment without penalty.

No. The leadership team at GRCS has established maximum class sizes that cannot be surpassed. 

Questions about Variable Tuition should be directed to Jim Primus at JPrimus@grcs.org.