The financial operations and viability of our school depends on tuition and fees, as well as grants, donations and parent fundraising efforts. Lumen Christi does not receive funding from federal, state or local government agencies.
The Actual Cost of a Lumen Education
Lumen Christi Tuition
The actual cost to educate one child at Lumen for the current school year is $13,282, but families pay only 75% percent of that cost.
Tuition Reduction per Student =
$3,282
Tuition and Fees:
- Actual cost per student is $13,282
- 2024-25 Tuition and Fees are $10,000 for both Jr. High and High School.
- The average gap per student is $3,200+.
The remaining 25% is covered by five annual development and fundraising efforts. Each significant in their own way, these efforts include:
Annual Fundraising Gala:
Average annual tuition reduction: 14% of total tuition cost.
Held each year in February, the Annual Gala is a lively night of dinner and drinks, live and silent auctions and FUN! The success of this event is thanks to generous donors and guests would not be possible without through the time and talent of dedicated parent volunteers.
Archangel Attic:
Average annual tuition reduction: 7%
Located on the corner of Jewel Lake and 82nd on the Lumen Christi/Saint Benedict Parish campus, the Archangel Attic is one of Anchorage’s busiest thrift stores. One-hundred percent of proceeds go directly to the school’s operational budget – since 2010, these proceeds have totaled over $1.4 MILLION! The Attic is staffed throughout the year by community volunteers on Tuesday-Friday, and Lumen Christi parents on Saturday. The success of the Attic would not be possible without the generous gift of time by these dedicated volunteers.
LUMENary Annual Fund Drive:
Average annual tuition reduction: 6%
The LUMENary Drive is the school’s annual fund drive. Solicitations go out to school faculty, staff, parents, School Board members, and the greater community at large in September of each year. Faculty, staff and School Board giving rates are consistently at 100%. School family giving rates hover between 85-91% with an annual goal of 100%.
St. Benedict Parish Investment:
As a ministry of Saint Benedict’s, Lumen Christi has in the past received a portion of its’ budget from generous parishioners. Thanks to high enrollment numbers and the success of other fundraising efforts, we have been able to eliminate the need for parish support.
Athletics:
Average annual tuition reduction: 2%
Fees associated with Lumen Christi athletics, tournament fees paid by visiting teams and concessions sold at the Saint Scholastica Snack Shack (located next to the Lumen Christi gym) all contribute to this line item. The Snack Shack is staffed 100% by parent volunteers.
Grants/Other Income:
Average annual tuition reduction: 2%
Grant funding and other miscellaneous donations which support the school’s operating budget comprise this final category of tuition reduction.
The combination of these development and fundraising efforts help to keep tuition affordable for all families, regardless of need. Without these efforts in place, Lumen Christi would have to significantly raise tuition to balance its budget each year.
Tuition Payments:
Lumen Christi uses the Blackbaud program for managing tuition and fee payments to the school. Upon enrollment, families will establish a Blackbaud account and be able to access tuition and fees information and pay balances real-time through a mobile app. More information can be found at https://www.blackbaud.school/.
Tuition rates for the following school year are normally set and announced during the budget process which typically concludes in early spring.