October 21, 2025

Catholic Promise Scholarship Reduces Tuition for Families

News Summary

A newly announced scholarship program, the Catholic Promise, will significantly lower tuition costs for eligible families at Catholic Central High School. Beginning in the next school year, net tuition will drop to $6,000 for qualifying families, easing the financial burden of Catholic education. Funded through a 10-year philanthropic commitment, the initiative aims to maintain affordable access to education for families with a household income under $300,000. Applications will be available soon, and informational sessions will guide families through the process.

Grand Rapids – A newly announced scholarship program, the Catholic Promise, will significantly reduce tuition costs for qualifying families with students at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, net tuition for eligible families will drop to $6,000 per student, easing the financial burden of attending the institution.

The announcement was made on October 15, and the Catholic Promise scholarship is set to be funded through a 10-year philanthropic commitment aimed at maintaining affordable access to Catholic education. Families with a household income under $300,000 will be eligible to apply for the scholarship. Currently, the annual tuition at Catholic Central stands at approximately $13,000, highlighting the substantial financial relief the scholarship will provide.

Applications for the scholarship will become available on November 1, with prospective applicants encouraged to submit household income statements. Families registered and in good standing at a parish within the Diocese of Grand Rapids are eligible to participate, though they must adhere to Catholic Central’s expectations regarding GPA, service, and attendance records for students. If a family’s income qualifies, the Catholic Promise Fund will cover every dollar of tuition exceeding the $6,000 contribution required from families.

Informational sessions about the scholarship will be held at Catholic Central to guide interested families through the application process. The initiative reflects the school’s commitment to supporting Catholic education amidst rising tuition costs that have outpaced many families’ incomes. The annual amount provided through the Catholic Promise scholarship will also be indexed for inflation, ensuring continued support over time.

Catholic Central enrolls 567 students and is one of five high schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. The school, established in 1906, holds the distinction of being the oldest co-educational diocesan Catholic high school in the United States. Across all 31 Catholic schools in the Diocese, there were approximately 6,456 students enrolled for the 2024-25 academic year.

Bishop David J. Walkowiak remarked that the scholarship aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance access to Catholic education in the area. The Catholic Promise has been made possible largely due to the generosity of alumni donors Dan and Sherry Bowen, both graduates of the class of 1984.

This scholarship announcement arrives amidst notable growth, with a 7.23% increase in student enrollment in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to challenging enrollment conditions, the Diocese has initiated outreach efforts, which include expanding pre-K options and the construction of new educational facilities. Additionally, the Diocese continues to offer the Bishop’s Scholarship, a needs-based scholarship available to students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

For families who may still face financial challenges even with the reduced tuition, Catholic Central will continue to offer other forms of financial aid and scholarships. More information about the Catholic Promise scholarship and the application process can be found at catholicpromise.org.

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Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER

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