Montana ACE Scholarships
ACE Scholarships are income-based partial tuition grants designed to help lower-income Montana families afford private school. Scholarships are portable—if a child’s initial school choice doesn’t work out, the scholarship can follow the student to another ACE partner school.
Program Type: Income-based partial tuition scholarship (private, not state-funded)
Who It Serves: Families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty guideline
Typical Scholarship Amounts:
- Grades K-8: $3,000 per year
- Grades 9-12: $4,000 per year
What It Covers: Private school tuition for K-12 students
Current Availability: Over 100 ACE partner private schools operate across Montana, including:
- Religious schools (Catholic, Christian, etc.)
- Classical academies
- Montessori schools
- Specialized academies
Eligibility Requirements:
- Family income up to 300% of federal poverty guideline
- Student entering grades K-12
- Demonstrated financial need
- Must provide prior-year tax documentation
Application Timeline:
- Applications Open: First Monday in February
- Applications Close: Tax Day (April 15) each year
- Award Decisions: Announced in June
Application Process:
- Identify ACE partner school(s) you’re interested in
- Apply to school(s) for admission
- Submit ACE Scholarship application online
- Provide required documents:
- Prior-year federal tax return (1040)
- Proof of financial need (SNAP documentation, child support records, etc.)
- Student information
- Wait for award decision in June
Montana ACE Scholarship Portability:
- If initial school choice doesn’t work out, scholarship can follow student to another ACE partner school
- Provides flexibility if family needs to change schools
Important Notes:
- ACE Scholarships are partial tuition – they do not cover full private school costs
- Families are responsible for remaining tuition balance
- Average private school tuition in Montana: $8,000-$20,000+
- Many schools offer additional school-based financial aid to supplement ACE Scholarships
- ACE Scholarships can potentially be combined with tax-credit scholarships (check with schools and SSOs)
How ACE Differs from Tax-Credit Scholarships:
- ACE: Income-restricted (up to 300% FPL), $3,000-$4,000, apply Feb-April 15
- Tax-Credit: No income restriction, up to $6,000, apply year-round through SSOs (first-come, first-served)