Tuition, Scholarships & Financial Assistance

The investment in your child’s K-12 education through private Christian education pays dividends for a lifetime.

We are honored to have the opportunity to foster that investment. It is our goal to provide the highest excellence in education and programming, in a safe and loving environment, while keeping Christian education affordable for everyone in Sanford and surrounding communities.

Funding Private Christian Education

Our leadership team is dedicated to making GCS accessible to all families. We base tuition costs on an Affordability Index Tuition Model, which uses a sliding scale to determine out-of-pocket family tuition and fee costs for each student based on the family’s financial status. Additionally, there are a number of grants, scholarships and other financial aid opportunities to help fund private Christian education.

Cost of Attendance

To determine your family’s attendance cost at Grace Christian School, please complete the following:

1. Apply for (or Renew) the NC Opportunity Scholarship during the scholarship application period for each child who will attend GCS.
2. Calculate your Estimated Tuition. This estimate is based on information you provide and your student’s status with the NC Opportunity Scholarship. It includes Base Tuition, Base Fees & Capital Facility Fees. Your final cost will be determined by the level of funding provided by the NC Opportunity Scholarship.

Apply / Renew NC Opportunity Scholarship   Calculate your Estimated Tuition

New Family Application & Enrollment Fees^†

†The application fee is waived for Grace Christian CDC students enrolling in Kindergarten during Priority Enrollment.

Current Family Re-Enrollment Fees

Please note: Failure of current families to re-enroll during Closed Enrollment may result in loss of student seat(s) for the upcoming school year.

Payment Plans

Flexible payment plans are available to make GCS education more affordable. You will have the option to define your payment plan during the enrollment process.

For detailed description of fees and tuition policies, please contact Admissions.

Scholarships & Financial Assistance

As part of our effort to keep private Christian education affordable, we offer and support a number of grant, scholarship and financial aid opportunities.

NC Opportunity Scholarship*

• The NC Opportunity Scholarship is offered through the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). This income-based scholarship award ranges from $3,574 up to $7,942 per eligible student, per academic year.
• For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit www.ncseaa.edu/k12/opportunity
• For more information: 1-855-330-3955 or OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu

Tuition Assistance

Tuition Assistance is available to every enrolled student. To qualify, it is required first to apply for and accept, or renew, the student’s NC Opportunity Scholarship. Contingent awards are offered upon enrollment and confirmed only after the final tier level is established and funded by the NC Opportunity Scholarship.

ESA+ Grant (IEP/Learning Needs)*

• The ESA+ Grant is offered through the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) for children with qualifying disabilities, awarding funds from $9,000 to $17,000 per academic year, per eligible student.
• In order for GCS students to be awarded an ESA+ Grant, they will go through an evaluation through Lee County to receive an IEP Eligibility Determination. This is approximately a 90-day process. Contact our Learning Support Director to get started.
• For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit https://www.ncseaa.edu/k12/esa/
• For more information: 1-855-330-3955 or ESA@ncseaa.edu

*NCSEAA Parental Endorsement Policy: GCS begins disbursing funds well ahead of the academic year. However, funds provided by the NC Opportunity Scholarship & ESA+ are only distributed twice per academic year. All families are required to endorse these funds twice per year (each semester) as directed by GCS. Failure to perform this task within the timeframe communicated by the notification from GCS will lead to the loss of Tuition Assistance Funds, and lead to enrollment interruption for your student(s). 

Duskin and Stephens Foundation (DSF) Scholarship

• Limited-opportunity offering $9,000 ($3,000 per year for 3 years) to eligible students of military families.
• Eligibility Requirements and to apply, visit https://www.duskinandstephens.org/scholarships
• Only a few students are awarded this scholarship each year. For more information: info@dustinstephens.org

Folds of Honor Scholarship

• Up to $5,000 offered to both First Responder and Military eligible families.
• For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit https://foldsofhonor.org/scholarships/

Buchanan Scholarship

The Aubrey Renee and Walker Wayne Buchanan Scholarship was created to honor the lives of two beloved Grace Christian School students who were tragically killed in a plane crash. This endowment provides scholarship assistance for students attending Grace Christian School, with a special preference for families working in agriculture — those whose hard work and dedication are foundational to our community. Learn More

Grace Christian Pastor Scholarship

In an effort to support Pastors and Military Chaplains, GCS is honored to provide up to a 50% base tuition scholarship to full-time pastors and military chaplain families who meet the qualifications of our Pastoral Scholarship Program. A Pastoral Scholarship Form must be submitted with prior year tax returns and verified by Church/Military Leadership. Please contact Admissions for more information.

Financial Aid

In order to make GCS accessible for students, additional limited financial aid is available directly from GCS for families who apply and qualify. Any student accepted for GCS enrollment may apply for GCS Financial Aid. The Priority Application deadline for returning families is March 31st. Decisions will be announced prior to May 1st.

To apply for GCS Financial Aid, you must first apply/accept or renew the NC Opportunity Scholarship. Once you have submitted an Opportunity Scholarship application, you may apply for GCS Financial Aid using the button below and selecting “Create an Account.” Please note this account is separate from any other FACTS account you may have. New families must be accepted for enrollment prior to applying.

Apply for GCS Financial Aid

Contact Admissions if you need assistance in developing a financial plan for your student’s K-12 private Christian education.

Withdrawal Policy

Students are considered enrolled for the entire school year; therefore, budgets and teacher contracts are set accordingly. The official withdrawal date is confirmed by submission of the withdrawal form and final payment of balances due, including withdrawal fees.

Student withdrawal may be initiated by the school in the absence of a submitted withdrawal form if the student is expelled; the parent/guardian makes any form of withdrawal communication; and/or the student’s absences exceed those outlined in the student handbook attendance policy.

Application and Enrollment Fees are Non-refundable. Any annually-awarded financial aid is forfeited, in its entirety, upon withdrawal. Withdrawal fees are based on the grade of the student. Please reference the applicable table below.

High School Withdrawal Fees

Kindergarten, Elementary & Middle School Withdrawal Fees