Last verified: October 2026
What should a Nashville family ask a private school about aid?
Ask three things before you tour: Is the school EFS-registered, and is it on the ESA list if you live in the MNPS zone? What is tuition for your child's grade after the award is applied? And what need-based aid, sibling discount or member rate is available on the remainder?
Many schools also run monthly payment plans through a third-party service. Father Ryan, for instance, offers single, semester, 10-month and 12-month plans through FACTS.
Why do some schools require an EFS application before they award aid?
A school's own aid budget stretches further when state money covers the first $7,530 or $10,132.54, so some schools now make an EFS or ESA application a condition of need-based aid. Father Ryan states this requirement publicly for 2027-28 applicants.
If you are eligible but skip the state application, you may lose school aid as well.
| What School-Based Tuition Assistance is | What it isn't |
|---|---|
| The school's own grants and discounts | Not standardized across schools |
| Usually need-based, sometimes merit-based | Not available after the money for the year runs out |
| Often conditioned on applying for EFS or ESA |