Financial FAQs for 2007-08

2007 Financial FAQs

What is the cost of tuition at GPA?
Costs vary as a result of the nature of the school (i.e., student course loads differ depending upon whether they intend to graduate from the academy). A breakdown of course tuition, enrollment, and athletic fees is located on the GPA website under the “Admissions/Financial Policies” link.
What will Study Halls cost for the 2007-08 year?
The cost of Study Halls is now incorporated into the overall cost of tuition and fees at GPA, and as a result, families will not be charged separately for them.
Are Athletic Fees per year or sport?
Athletic fees cover the entire sport. Additional off-season fees may be charged. Please e-mail familyfinance@graceprep.org for more information.
Is it true that we will not have to pay Student Enrollment Fees for a 4th child enrolled at GPA?
Yes. A family with 4 or more students concurrently enrolled at GPA will not be charged a Student Enrollment Fee for the 4th (or more) student(s).
For whom is financial aid available at GPA?
Any current or prospective family can apply for financial aid. Policies and instructions regarding this process are found on the GPA website under the “Campus Life” link.
Are there any type of fees involved with transfering courses for credit to GPA? Yes. There will be a fee applied to your account in order to either transfer a course or proctor a test required for transfer credit. Please e-mail the Registrar for more information at rross@graceprep.org.
How much of the school’s budget is set apart for athletics?
Approximately 12% of the overall operating budget at GPA is designated for student athletics, and roughly 50% of this amount is subsidized directly through student athletics fees.
Is there a tuition refund policy at GPA?
Yes. The refund policy is detailed in the GPA Parent/Student Handbook accessed through the GPA website under the “Campus Life” link.
Is there a multiple-child discount at GPA?
Yes. The multi-child discount policy is detailed in the GPA Parent/Student Handbook accessed through the GPA website under the "Campus Life" link.
How does GPA offer a Christian, college-prep education for so much less than other private schools?
Education in general is not cheap, and in all fairness, a traditional private, college-prep school is not expensive when one considers the many advantages it provides. Grace Prep’s costs are mitigated by several factors, including creative classroom usage (a single classroom housing a variety of subjects and teachers throughout the day), lower personnel costs (using qualified yet “part-time” faculty at times), lack of lavish facilities (although we wish we had them!), and biblical stewardship of our resources, etc.
Why is GPA more expensive than some other private schools?
The only private, college-prep schools less expensive than GPA are church-subsidized schools and a few UMS schools. We cannot compete economically with schools that derive a portion of their income from a governing church, and each UMS school establishes its costs based on the academic and athletic opportunities offered. We are convinced that GPA offers the “biggest bang for the buck” in Christian, private, college-preparatory education.
What type of fund-raising goes on at GPA?
Because we are a cost-based school (i.e., the operating budget of the school is covered by tuition and fees), school-wide fund-raising occurs primarily to finance our financial aid and student scholarship programs, as well as capital improvements. Student clubs and athletic teams also engage in fund-raising to support their individual endeavors.
Does GPA accept donations?
Yes. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, therefore all contributions are tax-deductible and welcome.
Is financial aid subsidized from tuition and fees?
No. Our financial aid follows the biblical principal of tithing—by faith we have dedicated 10% of our annual operating budget to financial aid without adding that amount back in to tuition and fees. Thus, families that already have a difficult time making financial ends meet at GPA are not in addition subsidizing the needs of others. Moreover, the financial aid comes in the form of a credit on the Family Tuition Account of those that qualify. However, we will have fund-raising opportunities for those with the inclination and means to help fund our financial aid program.
What is the long-term financial outlook for GPA?
The future is very bright for GPA. Having successfully navigated a very difficult season in 2005, it is clear the Lord has His hand on our school. We stand on a solid foundation with highly competent people of integrity guiding our finances and organizational administration. Consequently, should the Lord tarry we are prepared to inculcate students as character witnesses of Christ for generations to come.