Understanding Bellarmine Preparatory School Tuition: A Comprehensive Guide

Bellarmine Preparatory School, a private Catholic co-educational high school in Tacoma, Washington, is known for its commitment to academic excellence and the development of the whole person, rooted in Jesuit values. This article provides a detailed overview of Bellarmine's tuition, associated costs, and available financial aid options.

Bellarmine Preparatory School: An Overview

Founded in 1928 by Fr. David McAstocker, S.J., Bellarmine Preparatory School is a Catholic, coeducational college preparatory high school run by the USA West Province of the Society of Jesus in Tacoma, Washington, within the Archdiocese of Seattle. It evolved from earlier institutions like Saint Leo's Grammar and High School (founded in 1912) and Aquinas Academy for girls (established in 1893). The school's motto is "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam," meaning "For the Greater Glory of God."

Located on a 42-acre campus overlooking Tacoma, Bellarmine serves over 900 students from the Greater Tacoma area, including Olympia, Gig Harbor, Federal Way, and Puyallup. The school boasts a rich history and a strong sense of community.

Tuition and Fees for 2025-2026

The tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $31,350 per student, which includes a $1,650 non-refundable deposit. In addition to tuition, each student is required to pay a limited loss and damage fee of $100 for their tablet device.

Additional Expenses

It's important to note that tuition does not cover all expenses. Textbooks and other fees are educational expenses and are not included in the tuition. The cost of books and other associated fees are determined by program and co-curricular selections. Additional costs to consider include:

Read also: Bellarmine University Bookstore

Textbooks: Approximately $200-$600 (can be reduced by purchasing digital or used textbooks)
iPad: For the 2024-2025 school year, iPads purchased through Bellarmine cost $700, which included tax and 4 years of AppleCare+ Insurance.
Technology Fee: $75, billed to your tuition account in July
Campus Ministry Retreats: $0-$140, depending upon location and duration of the retreat
Dual Credit Program: $60-$65/per credit
Yearbook: $75, billed to your tuition account in January
ASB/Activity Fee: $65
Lunch: The cost of lunch varies, as many students bring their own, but food is available for purchase daily in the campus center.

Payment Options and Policies

Bellarmine asks all families to set up their tuition account through FACTS, their partner in tuition billing. The Board of Directors’ policy is to have tuition prepaid. The first 10% of tuition is due by March 15 for existing students and by February 28 for incoming students and is non-refundable.

Bellarmine offers several tuition payment options:

Full payment: Before August 5, 2025, with a $100 discount
Two-payment plan: August 5, 2025, and January 5, 2026, with a $50 discount
10-month payment plan: July 5, 2025, through April 5, 2026

All payment plan options are available through FACTS. Bellarmine accepts cash, checks, and credit cards for tuition payments.

The tuition collection policy as resolved by the Board of Directors is: "Those accounts which are considered past due will not be permitted to attend the following semester."

Tuition Assistance Programs

Bellarmine strives to be affordable and accessible to all families interested in joining the Lion community. The cost of tuition should not deter a student and his family from applying to Bellarmine. Our tuition assistance program helps students and their families who cannot afford the full cost of attending our school. Over 43% of our families receive tuition assistance and the average grant for the 2023-2024 school year was $7,621.

Read also: Tuition at Bellarmine

Applying for Tuition Assistance

Families applying for tuition assistance will need to complete an online application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment by January 17, 2025. Applications are available as of October 1, 2024. All 2025-26 tuition assistance applications must be done online. Applicants may be selected for a randomized financial review at any point in the school year upon accepting their tuition assistance awards.

Parents submit a tuition assistance application through FACTS, an organization serving the tuition assistant departments of many private schools, including Bellarmine. FACTS applies a standardized method of evaluation which considers income, assets, extraordinary expenses, and some forms of indebtedness. These are factored in with family size, the number of children attending tuition-based schools and the years remaining to parent’s retirement, to determine the family’s discretionary income. FACTS sends the confidential evaluation back to the school. This report suggests the amount the family should be able to contribute to their child’s education.

The deadline to submit a completed tuition assistance application, including all required documentation, is January 16, 2026. Applications received after this date will not be evaluated until all materials are submitted. Applications received after the January 16, 2026 deadline will be reviewed beginning in March on a monthly basis depending on space availability for the Class of 2030.

Parents should contact Mary Graves, Director of Student Accounts and Tuition Assistance, requesting a review of their tuition assistance award.

Fulcrum Foundation

Each year, Fulcrum gives hope to many families throughout Western Washington who understand the value of a Catholic education. The Fulcrum Foundation also offers a $1,500 (2023-24) grant to our families of greatest need. Through the tuition assistance program, Fulcrum provided grants of $1,500 to nearly 1,000 students in the Seattle Archdiocese for the 2023-24 school year. Applications are due December 31, 2023.

Fulcrum is partnering with FACTS to manage the collection and processing of Hossfeld Tuition Assistance (TAP) applications. Award decisions will be made by Fulcrum based on financial need. Each family will pay a $35 fee to FACTS to apply for Fulcrum tuition assistance.

Bellarmine's Work Study Program

Bellarmine’s Work Study Program gives students the chance to earn tuition support while working on campus. Through these experiences, students grow in responsibility and practical skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Opportunities are offered year-round-including summer, before school, and after school-with most sessions averaging about 60 hours (varies by position). Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of forming “men and women for others,” the program helps students value service, hard work, and stewardship as they invest in their own education.

Multi-Student Discount

Bellarmine offers a multi-student discount.

The Value of a Bellarmine Education

Despite the cost, many families find that a Bellarmine education is a worthwhile investment. Bellarmine’s Jesuit values leave you with more than just knowledge. The #1 reason families choose Bellarmine is college admissions success. At Bellarmine, you have access to six full-time college counselors-more than any other private school in the Bay Area. With over 100 co-curricular activities to choose from at Bellarmine, you’ll sharpen your talents and prepare to stand out in the college admissions process.

Academic Excellence and Holistic Development

As a Jesuit institution, Bellarmine is not only dedicated to academic excellence, but the development of the whole person as well. Courses and co-curricular activities in the visual and performing arts offer students of all skill levels the opportunity to explore or discover their passion for the arts. The Bellarmine experience is only possible because of our supportive and generous community. Our students receive an unparalleled education - engaging in a rigorous and dynamic student life, focused on development of the whole person with enhanced courses, extra-curricular activities and programs.

Bellarmine is an amazing school, and many of the teacher deeply care about students, displaying the school's Jesuit value of Cura Personalis. Bellarmine helped me to grow both academically and as an individual. I really love the culture fostered at Bellarmine. Everyone is friendly with each other and it facilitates an environment that helps everyone to learn. The teachers, for the most part, also share this spirit.

Community and Values

As a Catholic school, we believe that Jesus' message is that God loves us, calls us to Him, and that all people are brothers and sisters. The call to be a follower of Christ, through the Church community and in service to the world, is one of continual conversion.

“The camaraderie and the relationships you develop with your friends are connections that you wouldn't be able to make in such a deep fashion otherwise. The Bellarmine Brotherhood has your back. Here, you feel comfortable speaking up in class and tackling tough subjects. Many of the teachers, counselors, and leaders you see every day at Bellarmine are women. There's always something happening at Bellarmine!

Athletics

Bellarmine Athletics has a long tradition of excellence, but our program is about much more than winning. Bellarmine was thrilled to celebrate the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees! It was a wonderful evening honoring our student-athletes, coaches, and volunteers whose dedication and commitment have left a lasting legacy.

Experiential Learning

Juniors must complete a total of thirty hours of community service, as well as helping out at the local L'Arche farm with their Ignatian Formation (homeroom) class during their Freshman year. In 1993, Bellarmine started Phoenix Housing, a tradition of housing temporarily homeless families in academic buildings during non-school hours for a small span of the year. Bellarmine holds a required student body retreat for the freshmen, called "On a Purpose for a Purpose". Freshmen and sophomores are also required to attend Faith in Formation meetings. These generally occur during CP (Community Period), now named Ignatian Formation (homeroom). An optional overnight retreat, the Francis Xavier Urban Plunge, is offered in the fall and spring for sophomores. Four retreats are offered to seniors. Senior Pilgrimage is a weekend hike up a mountain. Montserrat is an Ignatian-directed retreat which is made in complete silence for a 24-hour period, and the Manresa is also a silent retreat over a 48-hour period.

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