Scholarships and Tuition Assistance Information

In an effort to meet the growing financial needs of more of its prospective and current families, Mother of Mercy revised its scholarship program in 2011, which enabled us to broaden our total tuition assistance and help more of those families unable to afford a Catholic education.

Our scholarship award program ranges from $1,000 a year to 1/2 year scholarships to multi-year full rides!

How do I apply for a Mercy Scholarship?

Your admissions application (available September 2012) essay also serves as your application for all scholarships to Mercy, of which we have four categories of prestigious awards for incoming freshmen:

First, Mercy offers Academic Scholarships based on an eighth grade girl's High School Placement Test score. These are known as our Leading Scholars and Academic Achiever Scholarship awards. Recipients of these scholarships not only receive significant, multi-year offers, but are also invited to attend our special Admission with Distinction dinner event held January 14, 2013.

Mercy will also award a number of Circle of Mercy Scholarships which are, again, based upon a student's HSPT score range and quality of admission essay.

Mercy recognizes that testing cannot be the only gauge of excellence nor can it identify all true potential. It is for this reason that we provide our Scholarships of Inspired Excellence of at least $1,000. Selection begins with the application essay (found in the admissions application form) from which 25 - 30 candidates will be invited to participate in the final “Be Inspired Speech Competition". Selected participants will speak to our panel about their own inspiration. The number of scholarships, and their values granted, will be based upon the level of excellence displayed.

Lastly, sponsored by Mother of Mercy's generous benefactors, Named Scholarships recognize excellence in different academic disciplines. Recipients are selected from the pool of families who demonstrate financial need. These scholarships require the completion of the PSAS form. Download the interactive PSAS PDF form here or complete the form online at the PSAS website. Mercy's code for the PSAS form is 3813.
* Please note the above PSAS form is for incoming freshmen only.

Mercy’s Board of Trustees voted and approved the tuition of $9,750 for the 2013-14 school year. Tuition maintains the value of a Mercy education and perpetuates the excellence that is already present, while also considering the impact on our families. Mercy’s tuition is still one of the very best educational values in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati!  There is also a non-refundable registration fee of $350 (for incoming students only) that will later be applied toward your tuition, as well as an annual $100 iPad fee.

Please don’t simply assume there will not be enough assistance and that you won't be able to experience Mercy.  We know it can be a financial strain, but how we can help continues to be strengthened every year.  So please, talk to us.

As noted above, Mercy commits the majority of its financial assistance to meet the needs of families with significant need. The Private School Aid Service (PSAS) application is a specific form required by Mercy for families requesting financial assistance.  (Will be posted as soon as it becomes available for the new school year.)  It can also be picked up in our main office.  The deadline for PSAS applications for incoming freshmen is November 17, 2012 and must be sent directly to PSAS (address is on the form).  This service reviews the total data annually and makes award recommendations to Mother of Mercy High School, as well as all other Archdiocesan schools.
*Tuition Assistance is redetermined each year, so all families must reapply and complete a new PSAS application annually.

Student work programs are available both after school and during the summer. Open to all students with priority selection given to current workers and those demonstrating a financial need.  Students perform light housekeeping cleaning up to one hour per day immediately after school each day or up to 6 hours per day in the summer.  A limited number of spots are available in the summer program.Workers receive tuition credit in the amount of $6.00 per hour worked. Contact our business office at (513) 661-2740 for more information.

Applications are available in the school Main Office or click here to download a PDF application.

Mercy does offer a reduction in tuition rate for families with three or more students in Archdiocesan high schools.  The yearly amount of the allowance is determined in accordance with the PSAS application for families but ranges from $625 - $725.

Many families find budgeting tuition easier by making monthly payments to Mother of Mercy High School. Such payment arrangements are processed by Tuition Management Systems for Mercy.  Contingent upon the amount a family wishes to pay up front, the balance is spread into eleven equal payments within the school year.  For convenience, an invoice is sent at the start of each month and payments are always due by the 15th.

If you have any other questions that have not been answered by our website, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Judy Scarlato, Finance Operations Coordinator at 513.661.2740 or by email at scarlato_j@motherofmercy.org