For many families, choosing a Christian education is a financial decision, not a question of desire. The desire is already there. The tuition is the wall. CEN exists to lower that wall, so that a family who wants a Christian, Evangelical, or Catholic school for their children is not turned away by cost alone. CEN SGO is the program that funds the scholarships, and starting with the 2027 tax year, a new federal tax credit gives it real fuel.
This article is for parents weighing whether a Christian school is within reach. The short answer is that it may be closer than you think.
How the scholarships are funded
The money behind these scholarships comes from donors who redirect part of what they already owe in federal taxes. The federal scholarship tax credit lets a donor send a portion of their tax bill to a Christian school scholarship instead of the federal general fund. They give to a scholarship-granting organization, an SGO, and CEN spends at least 90 percent of what it receives on scholarships.
You do not need to understand the donor side to benefit from it. What it means for you is that there is now a dedicated stream of scholarship dollars built for Christian schools, and your family may qualify to receive it.
Who qualifies
This is the part most parents get wrong, in their own disfavor. They assume scholarships are only for families at the very bottom of the income scale. They are not.
Eligibility runs to 300 percent of Area Median Gross Income. That is the median income for your area, multiplied by three. It is a wide door. In many places it reaches well into what most people would call a middle-class income. The exact number depends on where you live, because area median income varies from one region to the next. The benchmark is income for your area, not the federal poverty line, and the two are different.
The practical takeaway is to apply rather than rule yourself out. Many working families who assumed they earned too much to qualify will find they fit comfortably inside the limit.
How a scholarship reaches your family
A donor can designate a participating school, which often means support flows to the schools a community already cares about. When you enroll your child in a participating Christian school, the scholarship dollars raised for that school help fund tuition for families who qualify. The donor does not choose your child by name, the law does not allow that, and a scholarship reaches a qualifying family through the school or the scholarship pool.
For you, the steps are the ordinary ones. You choose a participating Christian school, you enroll, and you apply for a scholarship through that school’s process. The how-to varies by school, so the school is your best guide on its own timeline and paperwork.
What changes in 2027
The federal credit is effective for the 2027 tax year. The donor-facing giving window has not opened yet, so the larger pool of scholarship dollars builds toward that point. Plenty of Christian schools already run scholarship programs today, so it is worth asking your school what help is available now and what will grow once the federal program is live.
CEN SGO is built on a proven Ohio model, with a record of scholarships awarded before the federal credit existed. The affordability this creates is not a promise on paper. It is an extension of work that already runs.
Frequently asked questions
My family is middle-class. Do we make too much to qualify?
Probably not. Eligibility runs to 300 percent of Area Median Gross Income, which in many areas reaches a middle-class income. The limit depends on where you live, so apply rather than assume.
How do we apply for a scholarship?
Start with the participating Christian school you want for your child. Each school runs its own application process and timeline, and the school can walk you through it.
Is this money I have to pay back?
No. A scholarship is not a loan. It funds tuition at a participating Christian school for families who qualify.
To see how the donor side works, read What is an SGO, and how does the federal tax credit work and Where your gift goes, and how a scholarship reaches a family. If a grandparent or family friend wants to help, point them to For grandparents: investing in a child’s future and faith at no extra cost.
Take the next step
If a Christian education has felt out of reach, this is worth a closer look. Find a participating school and ask about scholarships, and sign up to hear when the 2027 program opens.
Sources:
- EdChoice, A Parent’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Scholarships
- NCEA, Understanding the New Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
- IRS, Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC)
