Think you can’t afford a quality Christian Education?

Think again. Portsmouth Christian Academy proudly offers Variable Tuition. Tuition at PCA is not “one-size-fits all.” It’s a range, a range that spans from 40-80% of the actual cost of education. Variable Tuition adjusts tuition rates to meet your family’s unique financial position. No family at PCA pays the full cost of education.

Variable Tuition allows families to apply for reduced tuition that is right for their unique financial situations. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Awards are communicated to applicants within 10 business days of the time that FAST receives the Variable Tuition application and supporting documents.

Application Fee $100 (non-refundable), due with application

Enrollment Commitment $650 – secures a child’s place in the desired grade, due within two weeks of acceptance.  Your annual Enrollment Commitment is not a fee on top of tuition, but rather a portion of tuition paid in advanced and credited to the tuition account of the student.

Tuition covers the cost of lab work, book fees, day field trips, and athletic and fine arts programming.

Wondering what your family’s Variable Tuition rate will be? Click on the image below!

Variable Tuition FAQ

General FAQs

What is Variable Tuition?
Variable Tuition is a need-based tuition assistance program similar to those used by many private schools, colleges, and universities. This program allows families to apply for reduced tuition that is right for their unique financial situations. Thus, this makes a PCA education affordable to many qualified students who could not otherwise join our school community.

How Does Variable Tuition Work?
Any family (current or new) of a kindergarten through twelfth grade student may apply for Variable Tuition if they are concerned about affording the full tuition rate at Portsmouth Christian Academy and they think they may qualify for the program. Many factors are considered when determining the tuition amount a family is able to pay, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family. The resources available for the family in a given year must also be considered in light of the Variable Tuition awards available at PCA.

An application for Variable Tuition does not affect the re-enrollment or admission process. Regardless of financial need, parents should initiate the re-enrollment or admission process as early as possible. Families may apply for Variable Tuition only after they have applied for re-enrollment or admission to the school.

It is not possible for a family or the school to estimate the tuition level for which a family qualifies without the completion of a Variable Tuition application. Applications are submitted directly to FAST, a third-party agency. FAST evaluates the application and makes a recommendation to the school’s Variable Tuition team. Families are then notified by PCA of the tuition level for which they qualify.

Unfortunately, the school is not able to provide Variable Tuition to every deserving student. We work within the available resources to make the school accessible to as many students and families as possible.

Do I need to apply to Portsmouth Christian Academy to find out my Variable Tuition amount?
Yes. We ask that all families interested in sending their child(ren) to PCA fill out an application before applying for Variable Tuition.

Upon completion of my Variable Tuition application, when will I receive confirmation of my Variable Tuition?
Typically you will receive confirmation within 2 weeks of providing all required information to our confidential third party service.

What is the cost to apply for Variable Tuition?
The cost to apply for Variable Tuition through FAST is $48.

FAQs for Prospective Parents

Should every new PCA family submit an application for Variable Tuition?
No. Only families who feel that they may not be able to pay full tuition should submit an application.

Do I need to apply for Variable Tuition every year?
Yes. A new application must be submitted every year.

What is the deadline to apply for Variable Tuition?
Applications are submitted to FAST and considered after you have submitted a student application to Portsmouth Christian Academy. Applications for new families are accepted throughout the year as families apply to PCA.

What do I need to submit to FAST?
You will need to fill out an application in FAST, and upload your 2018 tax documents.

Is there a fee to apply for Variable Tuition?
FAST charges $48 per application whether you have one child or multiple children.

If I do not qualify for the program this year, can I apply again next year?
Yes. A family that does not qualify is welcome to reapply the following year.

Do I need to apply for admission separately from applying for Variable Tuition?
Yes. For new students, application to Portsmouth Christian Academy and application for Variable Tuition are two separate processes. However, new families may complete both application processes simultaneously.

Will applying for Variable Tuition hurt my student’s chance of being admitted to the school?
No. Admission applications and Variable Tuition applications are evaluated separately, and an application for Variable Tuition has no bearing on the admission process.

What kind of economic situation is typical of a family who qualifies for Variable Tuition?
A wide range of families with a variety of circumstances qualify for the program, from those who are able to pay close to the full tuition rate to those who are at the entry level of the variable tuition range. Many factors are evaluated, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family. Visit this link to see a sampling of families from different situiations who have applied for Variable Tuition.

Are some families awarded full tuition?
No. Every family is required to make a financial investment in their child’s education. Our commitment to providing Variable Tuition means that we are sharing in that investment with you. Your family will not receive Variable Tuition that is less than our published range.

Are all admitted students offered Variable Tuition if the family qualifies?
No. Unfortunately, the school does not have the ability to offer Variable Tuition to every student who qualifies for both admission and Variable Tuition. A student may be admitted to the school but placed on a waiting list for Variable Tuition. It is recommended that families apply for Variable Tuition as early as possible.

Who should I contact with questions about Variable Tuition?
Questions about Variable Tuition should be directed to:
PCA Admissions
admissions@pcaschool.org
603.742.3617

FAQs for Current Parents

Should every returning PCA family submit an application for Variable Tuition?
No. Only families who feel that they may not be able to pay the full tuition should submit an application.

Do I need to apply for Variable Tuition every year?
Yes. A new application must be submitted every year.

What is the deadline to apply for Variable Tuition?
Applications must be submitted to FAST by February 5, 2022. All supporting tax documents must be uploaded by February 5, 2022.

What do I need to submit to FAST?
You will need to fill out an application in FAST, and upload your 2020 and/or 2021 tax documents.

Is there a fee to apply for Variable Tuition?
FAST charges $48 per application whether you have one child or multiple children.

If I do not qualify for the program this year, can I apply again next year?
Yes. A family that does not qualify is welcome to reapply the following year.

My child receives assistance through the New Hampshire State Scholarship program. How does this work with Variable Tuition?
New Hampshire State Scholarships are issued separately from Variable Tuition and are applied to a student’s tuition balance at the time they are awarded for students who have completed online enrollment. To learn more about State Scholarships, please see the Additional Resources section below.

What kind of economic situation is typical of a family who qualifies for Variable Tuition?
A wide range of families with a variety of circumstances qualify for the program, from those who are able to pay close to the full tuition rate to those who are at the entry level of the variable tuition range. Many factors are evaluated, including income, assets, unusual expenses, and the size of the family. Visit this link to see a sampling of families from different situations who have applied for Variable Tuition.

But I don’t pay 80% of the tuition rate, I pay the full amount. Did I miss a step? 
The actual cost of a PCA education is higher than the published tuition rate. The actual cost is underwritten by donations and supplemental programs. These underwritten amounts allow us to reduce the actual cost of PCA’s tuition by 20%, so that no family at PCA pays more than 80% of the actual cost of this excellent Christian education.

Are some families awarded full tuition?
No. Every family is required to make a financial investment in their child’s education. Our commitment to providing Variable Tuition means that we are sharing in that investment with you.

Who should I contact with questions about Variable Tuition?
Questions about Variable Tuition should be directed to:
PCA Admissions
admissions@pcaschool.org
603.742.3617

Helpful Links

Submit Variable Tuition Application

Applications for variable tuition can be completed online through FAST (Financial Aid for School Tuition). FAST performs an initial evaluation and reports a recommendation or need-calculation to the Variable Tuition team.

Submit a Variable Tuition Application

Tuition Billing

Families may pay in full, by semester, or in 10 monthly installments beginning in June. PCA uses Smart Tuition for all school billing. The Smart Tuition program can be accessed and managed through a convenient online portal.

Access Smart Tuition

If you have any questions regarding the Smart Tuition program, you may contact Allison Russell in the Business Office at 603.742.3617, ext. 107.

Additional Resources

Scholarship Opportunities

If you live in New Hampshire or Maine, your family may be eligible for scholarship money to help pay for your child’s tuition at PCA.

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS: For qualified New Hampshire residents, the Giving and Going Alliance (GGA), the NH Children’s Scholarship Fund (NHCSF), and Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) are organizations that distribute scholarship funds made available through the NH State Scholarship Program.

MAINE RESIDENTS: For Maine residents, the Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund (MCSF) awards Scholarships to qualified Maine residents through donations made to the program.

To get started, review the eligibility requirements below. Families must apply with the required tax return information and choose PCA as their school.  You must also indicate the scholarship organization from which you are seeking funds. For the GGA application, you must add BOTH PCA and GGA to the Student Section and the Schools Section of the application. Failure to include BOTH organizations in BOTH places will result in your application not being considered.

Please Note: Each organization requires families to apply through a different financial aid agency.

·       Giving and Going Alliance requires applications through FACTS.

·       NH Children’s Scholarship Fund and Education Freedom Accounts require applications through their own website.

·       ME Children’s Scholarship Fund requires applications through their form.

·       If ONLY applying for PCA Variable Tuition, families are required to apply through FAST.

Eligibility:

·       Be a New Hampshire resident (GGA and NHCSF) or Maine resident (MCSF)

·       The child must be between the ages of 5 and 20 and not yet graduated from high school and entering Kindergarten or 1st Grade for the first time, (OR entering grades 2-12 and coming from a public school (SASID is required) for New Hampshire residents only)

·       Household income cannot exceed program guidelines for NH Scholarship and ME Scholarship programs

If you have questions about applying for Variable Tuition, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@pcaschool.org or by phone at 603.742.3617.