Every way to pay for private school in the Tulsa metro
11 public and private sources a family in Tulsa, Wagoner, Rogers or Creek County can use for private, church, independent, homeschool and early-childhood education, with eligibility, amounts and dates.
Last verified: October 2026. Agencies revise these programs every year, so confirm details with the office named in each section.
Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC)
The program most Tulsa private school families lean on: a refundable state tax credit of $5,000 to $7,500 per child, sized by household income and mailed by the Tax Commission to an accredited private school.
Eligibility and dates →Special education · PK3 to 12thLindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (LNH)
A state scholarship for children on an IEP, plus military, foster-care and other qualifying students. OSDE pays it toward tuition, fees and disability services at an approved private school; 27 Tulsa-area schools are on the October 28, 2026 list.
Eligibility and dates →Homeschool · Up to $1,000Oklahoma Homeschool Tax Credit
A refundable credit of up to $1,000 per homeschooled student for online programs, tutoring, curriculum and test fees, claimed on the Oklahoma return for the year the money was spent.
Eligibility and dates →Donor-funded scholarshipsTax-Credit Scholarships (SGOs) for Tulsa Schools
Donor-funded nonprofits turn gifts into private school scholarships, and their donors claim an Oklahoma credit of 50% or 75%. GO for Catholic Schools and the Opportunity Scholarship Fund both serve Tulsa families.
Eligibility and dates →New · Jan 1, 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (Starts 2027)
Oklahoma signed up for the new federal scholarship credit. Beginning with tax year 2027, a person who donates cash to an SGO on the state's federal list can take a dollar-for-dollar federal credit, capped at $1,700.
Eligibility and dates →Catholic schoolsCatholic School Aid (Diocese of Tulsa & Eastern Oklahoma)
Catholic families in the metro typically combine the tax credit with the Saint Francis of Assisi Tuition Assistance Trust, a GO for Catholic Schools scholarship and parish or school help.
Eligibility and dates →Free · Birth to age 4Free Pre-K & CAP Tulsa Early Education
Public pre-K is free for every Oklahoma child who is 4 by September 1, and CAP Tulsa offers free year-round early education for eligible Tulsa County children from 6 weeks through age 4.
Eligibility and dates →Income-basedOKDHS Child Care Subsidy
Oklahoma Human Services helps eligible working families pay licensed child care. From February 1, 2027, new families must be at or below 55% of state median income to enter.
Eligibility and dates →Juniors & seniorsDual Credit at Tulsa Community College
Eligible Oklahoma juniors and seniors, including private and homeschool students who meet the admission rules, can have TCC tuition waived for up to 12 hours as juniors and 18 as seniors.
Eligibility and dates →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Need-based grants, sibling pricing and payment plans set by each school, usually the layer that closes the gap after the state credit.
Eligibility and dates →Partner fundEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
Privately funded help offered through participating partner church and community schools, aimed at the balance some families still face after state money and school aid. Terms are confirmed during the funding check.
Eligibility and dates →How do Oklahoma's school-choice programs differ?
| Source | What it is | Who can use it | How much | How the money moves | What it isn't |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC) | Refundable Oklahoma income tax credit | Oklahoma residents from pre-K at age 4 through grade 12 at an accredited, registered private school; every income level | $5,000-$7,500 per student by AGI tier, never more than tuition and fees | Tax Commission check mailed to the school in the parent's name | Not an ESA, not a debit card, and not usable for outside tutors or devices |
| Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (LNH) | OSDE scholarship for students with disabilities and a few other groups | Children from PK3 up on an IEP, plus several foster, military and homeless-school routes | Computed per child from the state aid formula; never above the school's charges; OSDE keeps up to 2.5% | Warrant to the parent, mailed to the school and endorsed over | Not usable at a school OSDE hasn't approved |
| Homeschool tax credit | Refundable Oklahoma income tax credit | Families teaching at home under Oklahoma's homeschool exception | Up to $1,000 per student per tax year | Claimed on the state return for the year you paid | Not a tuition credit, and it excludes internet service and out-of-state trips |
| SGO scholarships (GO for Catholic Schools, OSF and others) | Donor-funded private scholarships | Set by each organization, often need-based | Set by each organization | Usually paid to the school | Not guaranteed; awards depend on what donors give |
What are the next funding dates for Tulsa families?
- Dec 1, 2026OSDE's posted cutoff for a complete Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) application for the 2026-27 school year. Anything that arrives later is reviewed for 2027-28.
- Dec 15, 2026Scholarship granting organizations file the Tax Commission's combined state-and-federal SGO application if they want to be listed for tax year 2027.
- Dec 31, 2026Families approved for a 2026-27 Parental Choice Tax Credit lose the ability to request a school change or tuition adjustment after today. It is also the last day for a 2026 gift to count toward an Oklahoma SGO donor credit.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal scholarship tax credit (Internal Revenue Code Section 25F) begins. Oklahoma has opted in, so 2027 gifts to listed SGOs can earn it.
- Feb 1, 2027New OKDHS child care subsidy applicants must be at or under 55% of state median income; families already enrolled can renew up to 70%.
- Mar 15, 20279:00 a.m.: the 2027-28 Parental Choice Tax Credit application opens on OkTAP, and the 60-day priority clock starts.
- Apr 15, 2027Annual application deadline for the Saint Francis of Assisi Tuition Assistance Trust, the need-based aid fund for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma.
- Mid-May 2027The 60-day priority period ends. Households above $150,000 that are not returning recipients move into review in the order they filed.
- Jun 15, 202711:59 p.m.: the 2027-28 tax credit application closes, and the Tax Commission accepts nothing late.
Find out which Oklahoma sources fit your Tulsa family
Answer five quick questions with no paperwork. A tuition counselor calls back with your tier, your programs and the dates to hit.