Affording Tuition

No family pays more than 20% of the full cost of a Cotter education. However, local families who are unable to pay the posted tuition rate are welcome to apply for our Flexible Tuition Program, which allows families to pay a reduced tuition amount based on their individual circumstance. 

Cotter uses a system called "Facts Grant & Aid" to process applications and evaluate eligibility for Flexible Tuition. There is a $35 fee to submit an application. If, after completing the application, it is determined that a family does not qualify for the Flexible Tuition Program, the fee will be refunded. Apply for Flexible Tuition.

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for certain educational expenses for any student in your family. These expenses include college and tuition for elementary or secondary private schools.To learn more about starting a 529 plan speak with your financial advisor. 

The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota has announced the availability of $152,300 to be awarded in tuition assistance scholarships for the 2021-2022 school year. These scholarships come from a $2 million endowment established several years ago during the Seeds of Faith capital campaign. The endowment provides tuition assistance in the form of scholarship to parents who seek a Catholic education for their children and who demonstrate a financial need. This endowment will also respond to a special need to provide tuition funding for the newly arrived immigrants in our diocese. Please remember that these scholarships are need based and are available only to families who are not able to enroll their students in Catholic schools because of limited income and work opportunities. This is not an academic scholarship fund. 

An application must be completed by parents and submitted to your pastor. Please note Section B and Section E must be completed by your pastor. After completing these sections your pastor will submit your application to the Diocese of Winona Pastoral Center. Please submit your application to your pastor by May 14. Final submission deadline to the Diocese of Winona is June 1. Recipients will be notified in July with the money being sent directly to the school account. The scholarship cannot be used to pay overdue tuition. Application forms are available in the Cotter main office or in the finance office. 

Scrip is a way for you to make money as you spend it! It is one of the easiest fundraisers the school has in place. The school, you, and the merchants who participate all benefit from the Scrip program.

Scrip Vendor Order Form

The Cotter Business & Scrip Office purchases gift certificates (Scrip) from local and national merchants at a discount. We sell these certificates at full face value to you. The profit that is made when we sell the certificates is turned around and given back to you. Parents receive 40% of the profit and Cotter receives 60%. You receive the credit on your tuition, child care or hot lunch account. You can also choose to donate the credit to a friend or family member's account, the school or your parish.

SCRIP OFFICE LOCATION, HOURS & CONTACT

St. Teresa’s Building Business Office
1115 W. Broadway
Door A under the skyway
12:30 pm - 3:30 pm *note new office hours
The Scrip Office is closed the last business day of each month (9/30, 10/29, 11/30 and 12/30)

• Walk-up sales available
• Email orders to scrip@cotterschools.org  
• Call in orders to 507-453-5114 from 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
• Hours will be updated for holiday breaks and the summer. 
• We accept exact cash, check, credit card or you can be billed through FACTS (student’s tuition account.)

Scrip can also be sent home with your Cotter student. Please download and complete this form to give consent for your child to transport your scrip purchase from school to your home.

ShopWithScrip

A variety of national merchants are available in addition to the merchants kept on hand in the SCRIP Office. Those merchants can be seen under SHOP at www.shopwithscrip.com  We order national merchant cards early in the week to be delivered by Friday. Email or call the SCRIP Office at 507-453-5114 to place those orders. Many vendors also have ScripNow! (instant paper or electronic cards that work just like plastic cards) that can be purchased if you have an immediate need. At www.shopwithscrip.com sign up for Presto Pay and ScripNow, or email the Cotter Business Office to have them ordered for you. Many of these can be available the same day you order them, if needed.

ShopWithScrip - Online purchases outside of business hours and a mobile app

Go to ShopWithScrip.com and click Register, then click Join an Existing Program. 

• Email us at scrip@cotterschools.org for our school’s Enrollment Code 
• By entering this code, your account will be associated with Cotter so you can begin earning rebates! Fill in all required personal information and click ‘I Accept.’ 
• You can make online purchases connected to your bank account that are available immediately as an electronic gift card sent right to your email or phone.
• You can enroll in the Mobile App “Raise Right” so make purchases even easier where cards are kept in the Wallet within the Mobile App.

Call the SCRIP Office at 507-453- 5114 for help with any of your purchases or online enrollment.