Despite economic challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and high inflation, Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore have kept their tuition rates relatively stable from the last academic year and remain significantly more affordable than other area private schools.
According to an annual tuition survey by the Catholic Review, Catholic high schools in the archdiocese that charge traditional tuition currently have an average tuition of $16,950. That represents only a 1.4 percent increase from the previous academic year’s average tuition.
Non-Catholic private schools of the region currently charge an average of $30,260 – about 79 percent higher than what Catholic high schools charge on average.
“I think Catholic schools are a phenomenal value,” said Jean Gould, chief financial officer at Calvert Hall College High School in Towson.
Gould, who is responsible for reviewing all financial aid applications at Calvert Hall, said about 40 percent of her students receive some form of aid, whether that’s an academic scholarship or need-based aid.
“We are trying to create a balance where we have the funds we need to run the school and also make sure it’s affordable for our families,” Gould said.
Dr. Barbara Nazelrod, president of The Catholic High School of Baltimore, noted that her school is continuing a tuition guarantee program started several years ago. The tuition charged for freshmen remains the same over all their years at Catholic High.
“We do our best to keep tuition costs to a minimum and to maintain the tuition guarantee each year by putting forth a conservative budget and adhering strictly to it,” Nazelrod said, adding that the school also “increases fundraising opportunities” and doesn’t use tuition dollars for capital improvements.
Jennifer Flinn, principal of Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, said school leaders recognize that it’s a “commitment and a sacrifice” for a lot families to send their children to Bishop Walsh.
“Catholic education is able to provide children with an academically excellent education,” she said. “We help build character and we have a faith-focused education that simply can’t be matched in other academic environments.”
The adjoining chart was compiled from high school websites and administrators. For comparative purposes, it includes fellow members of the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland. When available and consistent across all grades, fees were added to tuition to come up with the cost of attendance for the 2021-22 school year.
Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org
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