Last verified: October 2026
How do Charlotte Catholic schools help families pay tuition?
Diocese of Charlotte schools offer a reduced rate for registered, participating Catholic families, discounts of 10%, 25% and 50% for a second, third and fourth child (a fifth is free), and need-based Family Individualized Tuition (FIT) processed through FACTS.
FIT applications run from January through March 31 for the next school year and must be renewed annually. Families do not need to be registered Catholics to receive need-based aid.
Do Mecklenburg Catholic schools accept the Opportunity Scholarship?
Yes. All nine MACS schools are on the 2026-27 Direct Payment list, and the diocese tells families to apply to NCSEAA by March 1 for priority. NCSEAA data reported by Axios Charlotte show MACS schools received $16.8 million in Opportunity Scholarship funds in 2025-26.
St. Michael Catholic School in Gastonia is also a Direct Payment School.
Catholic School Aid (MACS & Diocese of Charlotte): what it is and isn't
| Catholic school aid is | It is not |
|---|---|
| Set school by school under diocesan policy | One flat diocesan scholarship amount |
| Need-based through FACTS, open to non-Catholics | Reserved for parishioners |