Understanding Duchesne Academy Tuition Costs and Family Individualized Tuition (FIT)

Choosing the right school for your child's education is a significant decision, and understanding the associated costs is a crucial part of the process. Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart, with campuses in both Omaha, Nebraska, and Houston, Texas, offers a transformative Sacred Heart education. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of tuition costs at Duchesne Academy, focusing particularly on the Family Individualized Tuition (FIT) program designed to make a Sacred Heart education accessible to a wider range of families.

Duchesne Academy: A Sacred Heart Education

Duchesne Academy is committed to fostering faith, intellect, social awareness, relationships, and personal growth within a loving community. Villa Duchesne provides a Catholic education in the Sacred Heart tradition, focused on fostering faith, intellect, social awareness, relationships, and personal growth in a community with love at the center for boys and girls age 3 through grade 5 and young women grades 6-12. As part of a network of Sacred Heart Schools, linked with more than 150 schools in 30 countries, Duchesne Academy emphasizes community building and strives to remove barriers to entry.

Family Individualized Tuition (FIT): Increasing Accessibility

In the spirit of the Sacred Heart commitment to building community and removing barriers, Duchesne Academy offers Family Individualized Tuition (FIT). Recognizing that families have diverse financial circumstances, Duchesne Academy offers the FIT program. FIT is designed to increase access to a high-quality Sacred Heart education for academically qualified students who strengthen our community and advance the mission of Duchesne Academy. FIT makes this possible! More than half of our freshman families currently receive individualized tuition, and families from 41 zip codes in the Omaha metro and across the economic spectrum have found their home at Duchesne Academy. This program is aligned with the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.

How FIT Works

The FIT program considers many factors when determining a family’s tuition contribution. Here's a breakdown of the FIT process:

Application: Families interested in FIT must complete an application and submit required documentation. The deadline for applying for FIT is March 16th, 2026 for the 2026-27 school year.

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FACTS Assessment: Duchesne Academy uses FACTS, a third-party service, to process financial information and provide a tuition recommendation. Complete the information and submit the required documentation. Once your information is processed, Duchesne Academy will receive a tuition recommendation from FACTS.
FIT Committee Review: The FIT Committee at Duchesne Academy reviews the FACTS recommendation, along with any other qualitative information provided by the family, to determine a sustainable tuition rate. Using that recommendation and all other qualitative information you provide; the FIT Committee will determine a sustainable rate of tuition that prioritizes tuition as a top financial commitment for your family.
Determination Letter: Families receive a preliminary FIT determination letter outlining their individualized tuition rate. You will receive your preliminary FIT determination letter by March 31st. Any remaining documents must be uploaded to FACTS by April 15 for Duchesne to apply the FIT determination to your FACTS account.

It is important to note that plans are assigned to families who have completed the enrollment contract and paid the registration fee.

Addressing Common Concerns about FIT

Duchesne Academy anticipates common questions and concerns regarding the FIT program:

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"I would never qualify; I make too much money." The FIT program is designed to consider a broad range of financial situations. Families are encouraged to apply regardless of their income level.
"I am concerned about additional fees beyond tuition." Duchesne Academy strives to be transparent about all costs associated with enrollment.
"Our family has multiple households." The FIT application process accounts for families with multiple households, ensuring a fair assessment of financial resources.

Tuition Costs and Additional Fees

While FIT aims to make tuition more accessible, it is essential to understand the standard tuition costs and any additional fees. For instance, Villa Duchesne's yearly tuition is $29,820.

At Duchesne Academy, tuition covers the core educational experience. However, families should also be aware of potential additional costs:

Activities Fee: $675 - A Sacred Heart education extends beyond the classroom and strengthens mind, body, and spirit. This fee provides students with the tools and infrastructure needed to learn and collaborate from anywhere, including an iPad, case, keyboard, Apple Pencil, Apple Care warranty, and tech support.
Other hidden costs of private school: Discover the hidden costs of private school in 2026, including fees, uniforms, and extras parents must budget for beyond tuition.

Duchesne does not charge extra fees for technology usage or science lab fees or textbook use.

Financial Aid and Payment Options at Duchesne

Duchesne Academy recognizes the importance of affordability and offers various financial aid and payment options.

Financial Aid Availability

Yes, Financial Aid is Available.

Payment Options

Duchesne provides flexible payment options to accommodate different family needs:

Option 1 - Full Payment: Full payment of tuition paid directly to the school by Aug. Families who pay the full tuition amount by a specific date may receive a discount. ($250 discount if paid by Aug.)
Two Payment Option: The two payment option with 50% of the tuition due by Aug. 23, 2024 and the remaining amount due Dec.

Duchesne Fund

The Duchesne Fund, formerly known as the Annual Fund, supports every aspect of student life. It closes the gap between the cost of tuition and the actual cost to educate each student. Over the decades, donors have stepped up and contributed time, talent, and treasure to our school. This tradition of generosity, even during the hardest of times, has built the remarkable academic institution that we share today. Every gift made on November 18, goes toward the Duchesne Fund and makes an immediate impact.

Duchesne Day

Duchesne Day is a 24-hour day of giving to support Duchesne Academy.

Utilizing 529 Savings Plans

Families can also leverage 529 savings plans to cover private school tuition expenses. The federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act means 529 savings plans-plans that allow families to save for educational expenses-can be used for private school tuition grades K-12 as well college costs, up to $10,000 in some cases.

A Look at Villa Duchesne

To provide a broader context, it's helpful to examine tuition and other factors at Villa Duchesne, another school.

Key Statistics for Villa Duchesne:

Grades: Prekindergarten-12
Enrollment: 584 students
Yearly Tuition: $29,820
Acceptance rate: 50%
Average class size: 15 students
Application Deadline: Jan. 13 / Jan. 30 / rolling

Academics and Faculty:

Total Classroom Teachers: 85 teachers
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree: Not specified
Average Class Size: 15 students
Number of AP/Advanced Courses: 13 courses

AP/Advanced Courses:

AP Literature and Composition
AP AB Calculus
AP BC Calculus
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP Computer Science
AP European History
AP French
AP Government Politics
AP Language and Composition
AP Physics
AP Psychology
AP Spanish
AP Statistics
AP US History

Sports Offered:

Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball

Understanding the Value Proposition

When evaluating tuition costs, it's crucial to consider the value proposition of a Duchesne Academy education. This includes:

Small Class Sizes: Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart has a student-teacher ratio is 7:1. The average class size: 15 students.
Dedicated Faculty: Total Classroom Teachers85 teachers.
College Enrollment: The school prepares students for higher education, with a focus on college enrollment.
Sports & Athletics: Villa Duchesne School offers 11 interscholastic sports.

Conclusion

Navigating the complexities of private school tuition requires careful consideration and planning. Duchesne Academy's commitment to providing a Sacred Heart education is reflected in its FIT program, which aims to make tuition accessible to a diverse range of families. By understanding the FIT process, standard tuition costs, and available financial aid options, families can make informed decisions about investing in their child's education at Duchesne Academy.

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