Tuition & Affordability

An Investment in Your Student's Future

Our goal at Shalom Christian Academy is to provide an excellent education while keeping tuition as reasonable as possible. Tuition covers only a part of the total operating expenses at Shalom.

This year, 38% of our students were awarded financial aid totaling more than $400,000. The maximum financial aid award per family is 40% of tuition costs. All financial aid is determined through FACTS Grant & Aid.

Financial Aid FAQ's

How does financial aid work at Shalom Christian Academy?

We know that applying for financial aid can feel overwhelming. To make the process fair and private, we use an outside system called FACTS Grant & Aid.

The process is a standardized financial analysis used by thousands of schools to ensure aid is distributed fairly. Think of FACTS as an independent auditor. They don't decide if you get money; they simply tell our school, "Based on the data, this is what this family can realistically afford."

How is my financial aid award decision made?

FACTS Grant & Aid looks at your family’s finances like a simple math equation:

What comes in: Your total income (paychecks, child support, etc.) and a small look at your savings.
What MUST go out: Essential costs like your mortgage/rent, groceries, utilities, and medical insurance.
What is left over: After those essentials are paid, FACTS determines how much "leftover" money is realistically available to put toward tuition.

Does FACTS Grant & Aid give me the money?

No. FACTS only provides a recommendation.
FACTS shows: "Based on their math, this family can afford $5,000 this year."
Shalom looks at that recommendation and our own budget to decide how much aid we can actually provide to help bridge the gap.

What counts as an "expense?"
FACTS Grant & Aid focuses on needs, not wants.

They DO count: housing, taxes, basic transportation, and healthcare.
They generally DO NOT count: credit card debt, club memberships, vacations or luxury expenses.

Why can’t I just give my tax returns to the school?

We use the FACTS Grand & Aid Program for your benefit:

Privacy: Your personal tax returns stay with FACTS. Our school staff members don't see your private documents.
Fairness: The same math equation is used for every family. It doesn't matter who you know at the school; everyone is treated exactly the same.

What if my tax return doesn't show the whole story?

Tax returns show the past, but we know life happens now. If you have a recent job loss, a medical emergency, or a change in circumstances, please use the "Special Circumstances" section in your application. This is where you can tell us the personal side of your story that the numbers might miss.

How can our family help fund the EITC scholarship fund? Are there any benefits to our family to participate?

Many families find the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) process confusing. Simply put: anyone who lives in Pennsylvania and pays Pennsylvania income taxes is eligible to participate.

The state-operated Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program awards tax credits to those who are eligible and make a contribution to an approved scholarship program (such as Shalom Christian Academy). These funds are then distributed in the form of scholarships to income-qualifying students.

If at any time you have questions about how to participate in EITC, please reach out to our partner Tami Clark of the Central PA Scholarship Organization by visiting her website at www.pennsylvaniaeitc.org, She is an expert in the process and helps anyone interested in participating in the program

Are there other scholarships available, such as the Alumni Scholarship?

Beyond EITC, there is an Alumni Scholarship Program funded through our annual Alumni Golf Tournament. If you applied for financial aid, and you are alumni, we will invite you to fill out a form later in the year. Fund amounts are awarded per child and are considered a gift on top of your financial aid package.

Tuition Information for 26/27 School Year

PreK

Kindergarten

1st - 12th Grades

Affording a Shalom Christian Academy Education

Shalom’s Financial Aid is primarily funded by the Pennsylvania EITC Program. Thanks to the many donors who have participated in the EITC program, Shalom has awarded more than $400,000 in aid for the 2025/26 school year. Shalom continues to work to recruit new donors to participate in the EITC program so the pool of money can increase and we can offer more assistance to those families that have need.

Please note - all applicants will need to make a NEW FACTS account that will be specific to the financial aid application. You can not use your existing parent or applicant FACTS account.

Financial Aid Information & Application
Step by Step Instructions for FACTS Aid Application

Financial Aid Information & Application

Shalom Christian Academy does not want finances to be a barrier to enrollment. We offer financial aid to those who qualify. Shalom’s Financial Aid is based on family need and those families that show more need will receive more aid to help offset their tuition costs.

Families will apply for Financial Aid through the FACTS Grant & Aid Program. The cost to apply is $40/family. The application period closes on April 2, 2026. Families will know their financial aid award by May 1.

The maximum award a family who applies can receive is 40%. The more need a family has, the greater the award. The less need a family has the less the award. This allows Shalom to award more money to families that have a greater need.

Since Shalom’s Financial Aid is funded by the Pennsylvania EITC program families need to qualify according to the EITC income guidelines. The EITC income guidelines for the 2026/27 school year are as follows:

	Base	Add Dependent (s)	Total
1 Child	$ 116,055.00	$ 20,428.00	$ 136,483.00
2 Children	$ 116,055.00	$ 40,856.00	$ 156,911.00
3 Children	$ 116,055.00	$ 61,284.00	$ 177,339.00
4 Children	$ 116,055.00	$ 81,712.00	$ 197,767.00
5 Children	$ 116,055.00	$ 102,140.00	$ 218,195.00
6 Children	$ 116,055.00	$ 122,568.00	$ 238,623.00

APPLY FOR AID
For questions about Shalom Financial Aid or if you do not qualify for aid through EITC and would like to talk to someone, please call 717.375.2223 or email business.manager@shalomca.com.

Step by Step Instructions for FACTS Aid Application

Click here to “Apply for Aid” or yellow button above
Click on “Create your Account”
(Even though you already have a FACTS account, the FACTS Grant & Aid is on a different platform and requires a new log in)
Enter your email address
Create a new FACTS account (Again, this is for FACTS Grant and Aid so you will need to create a NEW account)
Create an account
Create a Username and Password
Multi Factor Authentication - Choose an option or select do later
Which Term are you applying for aid?
- Select 2026-2027
What To Expect Page
- Short Video (2:28 minutes)
- Application Fee Summary
- Navigation
- Required Documentation (may include the following)
  - 2023 IRS Form 1040
  - 2022 IRS Form 1040
  - Dependent Statement if claiming more than 4 dependents
  - Copies of W2’s
  - Copies of supporting documentation for household Nontaxable Income
Click View Application
Schools:
- Shalom should already be listed, but if not, you can add Shalom Christian Academy Complete Sections 2-12
Submit Application

If you have any questions, email business.manager@shalomca.com.

Important Information

Application Fees

Shalom’s tuition is all inclusive to simplify payments for parents - the total cost includes all fees except the application fee and extended care fees. This includes bus transportation.

Application Fee: A non-refundable fee must be submitted with the application. Payment is due at the time of application on FACTS.

Here are the Application Fees for the 2025 - 2026 school year:

January - May: $125/student
June and July: $175/student
August: $200/student
Current year: $225/student

For Returning Families

February 12^th- 29^th: $120/student
March – May: $150/student
June & July: $175/student
August: $200/student

Extended Care Options

Shalom Christian Academy offers Extended Care – before and after school – for students.

Morning care is available from 7:00 am to 8:15 am and after school care is offered from 3:15 pm to 5:30 pm. Care is offered on days when school is in session. During after school care, students will have a time for homework, snack, and play (outside if the weather permits).

Cost for care is $15 per hour/student and is prorated as needed. Parents are billed on a weekly basis. Registration is required in advance. Email Mrs. Keller to learn more at jkeller@shalomca.com.

Early Withdrawal Policy

After enrolling a student, and a family chooses to withdraw prior to the end of the year, tuition owed is based on the following formula. If a family withdraws:

Between June 1 and the end of the first marking period, they are responsible for tuition through the end of the first marking period tuition.
During the second marking period, they are responsible for tuition through the end of the second marking period.
During the third marking period, they are responsible for tuition through the end of the third marking period.
During the fourth marking period, they are responsible for full year tuition.

Note: There is not a penalty for a family who registers for the upcoming school year and then chooses to withdraw prior to June 1. They will not be charged tuition.

Tuition Payment Options

All tuition payments are processed through FACTS. Click here to learn more about this program. FACTS offers the following payment options:

12 Monthly payments
10 Monthly payments
One time Annual payment: This option includes a 2% discount if tuition is paid in full by July 1, 2026 and 1% discount if tuition is paid in full by August 1, 2026.

FACTS is the payment plan provider most widely used by private, faith-based, and public schools nationwide. Since 1986, they have grown to serve more than 5,000 schools and have processed payments for more than two million families. FACTS helps families meet their financial obligations in a simple, convenient way that is completely confidential and secure. Because it is not a loan program, FACTS does not assess any interest or finance charges, and there is no credit check.

Schools using FACTS find that this service provides a better way for them to more efficiently manage the fee collection process while offering convenience to their families. In addition to collection payments, FACTS provides the schools with a variety of financial and management reports. They also help schools control their costs so that future fee increase are kept at the lowest possible level. This enables schools to focus on the quality of education all students receive.

Work Study/Career Tech/Apprenticeships and Tuition

Students who are released for work-study, Career Tech, apprenticeships, etc. will continue to pay full tuition. Charging full tuition ensures that these students continue to receive the benefits of academic instruction while gaining real-world, hands-on experience related to their field of study. Shalom continues to incur costs for providing facilities, faculty, support staff and resources. These remain consistent for all students whether they are learning on or off campus. Charging full tuition helps cover the administrative and overhead costs of maintaining student records, providing counseling services, and managing program logistics.

Student Support Services

At Shalom Christian Academy we recognize that students have different academic needs and often learn at different speeds. Learning disabilities, attention issues and/or anxiety issues can be discouraging for students. Through our Student Support Services(SSS), Shalom seeks to provide support for students with mild disabilities who are mainstreamed into the rigorous academic curriculum in the general classroom. Shalom offers support services to students in grades PreK - 12. Students in this program function at average to above average levels and are diagnosed with mild disabilities in the areas of:

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
ADHD
Processing Deficits
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
High-functioning Autism

Oldest Child	Second Child	Third Child	Fourth Child	Addit. Child
$6,946	$6,946	$6,390	$5,557	$4,862