Financial Assistance & Scholarships

Tuition at a Quincy Catholic elementary school is less than half of the actual cost to educate a student. Therefore, every family receives tuition assistance. However, we understand some families need additional help. QCES scholarships are available to students who demonstrate financial need, helping to make a Quincy Catholic Schools education affordable for all. If you have any questions about the assistance opportunities below, please contact Sara Reuschel at [email protected] or (217) 779-3157.

2026-2027 Tuition Assistance Program

The QCES Foundation offers a variety of K-8 scholarships based on financial need, including the Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship and the St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship.

The QCES Foundation is proud to offer a Tuition Assistance Program to help families make Catholic education more accessible. Scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated financial need, as determined by the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment to ensure impartiality and protect family privacy.

Key Info

• February 6 – April 10, 2026 – Tuition assistance begins for all RETURNING families. Applications must have ALL documentation submitted by this date.
• February 6, 2026 and ongoing – Tuition assistance begins for NEW families and will remain ongoing as long as funds are available.
• Families whose income falls within 200% of Federal Poverty Guidelines are especially encouraged to apply.
• There is a $40 non-refundable application fee per family, paid directly to FACTS, in order to submit your completed application.

How to Apply

• Complete the online FACTS application for the school where your child(ren) will enroll. Links to each school are located below.
• Ensure all required documents are submitted along with the application. Note: Paper applications are not accepted.
• If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, please don’t hesitate to contact the QCES Foundation office at (217) 779-3157.

Required Documentation

Depending on your financial situation, some or all of the following documents may be needed:

• A copy of your most recent IRS Federal Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040-EZ U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. If applicant and co-applicant file separately, both tax returns for the same year are required.
• Copies of your most recent W-2 Wage and Tax Statements for both the applicant and co-applicant.
• If you are applying before you’ve received your W-2 forms, please contact the QCES Foundation office at (217) 779-3157.

Award Notification

Families will receive notification of award decisions via email by the end of May 2026.

We are here to support you throughout this process and look forward to helping your family access the gift of Catholic education.

Click here to access the FACTS online application

Father Augustine Tolton Scholarship

Submission deadline is April 10, 2026

The Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship is a QCES full tuition scholarship (K-8) for one or more children awarded to one family registered at each of the four Quincy Catholic parishes (Blessed Sacrament, St. Anthony, St. Francis, and St. Peter) who have demonstrated financial need as determined by information provided by the family on the FACTS Application Form. Since the scholarships are need based, the names of the four families who are awarded a Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship will not be disclosed.

Fr. Augustus Tolton Scholarship Application Packet (PDF - Updated Feb. 2, 2026)

Newcomer’s Scholarship

Submission deadline is April 10, 2026

The QCES Foundation Newcomer’s Scholarship is a partially need-based full-tuition scholarship that will be awarded annually to one student in Grades K – 8, either Catholic or non-Catholic, whose family does not currently have any children enrolled in one of Quincy’s four Catholic elementary schools. It is non-renewable beyond the first year the student receives the scholarship. However, a QCES Foundation Newcomer’s Scholarship recipient will be eligible to apply for tuition assistance in subsequent years, and any tuition assistance a student may be awarded will be based on the financial need of a student’s family, as determined by the FACTS and the amount of tuition assistance available from the QCES Foundation for that particular school year.

Newcomer’s Scholarship Application Packet  (PDF - Updated Feb. 2, 2026)

St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship

Submission deadline is April 10, 2026

Full-tuition and fees scholarship (K-8) for four students registered at one of the four Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools whose family does not currently have a student enrolled and who has demonstrated financial need as determined by information provided by the family on the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment Application Form. More than one member of a family may receive the scholarship. The scholarship is intended for students of color, non-Catholic students, students below poverty level, or students with disabilities.

St. Thomas Aquinas Scholarship Application Packet  (PDF - Updated Feb. 2, 2026)

Gene Grawe Fund

Families can participate in the Gene Grawe Fund to help offset tuition. Participating families may purchase gift cards offered through many retailers. These businesses donate a percentage of the profits into the scholarship fund which is then distributed to the tuition accounts of the families participating. Relatives and friends of families can also purchase cards to generate funding.

For detailed information including merchant lists, please visit GeneGraweFund.org or stop by the office located in the lobby at St. Peter Church, 2600 Maine Street.

Illinois Tax Credit

Illinois residents are eligible for the Illinois Tax Credit for Private School Tuition and Fees. This tax credit provision allows parents to write off 25% of their eligible education expenses for their children, up to a maximum credit of $750. Eligible expenses include tuition, book fees, and lab fees in excess of $250. Talk to your tax advisor about this special credit.

Tuition Payment Plan

Enrolling in a FACTS Tuition Payment Plan (TMP) allows you to select a payment option that best suits your financial needs.

Monthly Payments

Spread your tuition balance over monthly installments. Payment Methods Offered: Credit Card, Automatic Bank Draft

Please note, payments made through a debit or credit card are assessed an additional charge for processing.

For more details about the options above and to enroll in the FACTS Tuition Payment Plan, create an online account:

Click here to access the FACTS Tuition Payment Plan (TMP).