Financial Aid Information

After completing the online application and being accepted, families may apply for financial aid by following these steps:
  1. Complete the financial assistance application on the FACTS website, which entails a $25 fee.
  2. FACTS will make a financial assistance recommendation after reviewing the financial aid application.
  3. If the family does not agree with the financial recommendation from FACTS, the family can request a meeting with the school administration to review any circumstances that are beyond what is reflected in the application.
  4. School administration will then take this information into consideration when developing a financial assistance plan.

Applying for the Tax Credit Scholarship

The Tax Credit Scholarship (TCS) is awarded annually through a lottery system to families who meet a household income level set by the State of Illinois. Scholarships are awarded by third party organizations, not by St John Berchmans School. Applications are time-stamped with specific deadlines, and funds are limited.

Families who wish to apply for the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship may do so through these two separate scholarship granting organizations (SGOs): Empower Illinois and Big Shoulders Fund SGO.

About the Illinois Tax Credit Scholarship

In August 2017, with bipartisan support, the House and Senate passed a comprehensive education funding bill that was signed into law by the governor. The law includes a provision for tax credit scholarships, which provide strong incentives for donors to support non-public school scholarships for low-income students in the state. Illinois students from low-income families may use these new scholarships to attend a non-public school of their choice.

This legislation represents a major step forward that will help create more equity in school funding throughout Illinois, and for the first time provide real school choice for students and their families.

For more information from the Archdiocese of Chicago, visit: