Discover Saint Ignatius

List of 16 frequently asked questions.

• How can my family see the school?

  Please see Visit Saint Ignatius for opportunities to experience our campus and engage with our Admissions Office and school community.

• How do I apply?

  Application to Saint Ignatius College Prep for incoming freshmen begins with the entrance exam, held on the first Saturday of December each year. Per the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Catholic Schools, Catholic high schools will administer the HSPT Entrance Exam, for the Class of 2031, on Saturday, December, 5, 2026.
  
  Eighth grade students may only take the entrance exam at one Catholic high school and must test with Saint Ignatius to be considered in our admissions process. Saint Ignatius College Prep utilizes the HSPT (High School Placement Test). The HSPT has five sections: verbal, quantitative, reading, math and language (English). A brief student writing prompt is administered following the entrance exam. There is no application required in advance of the entrance exam. Following the entrance exam, students must complete our online application, which becomes accessible to all applicants on December 5, 2026.
  
  Please see Admissions Process for more information.

• How can I prepare for the entrance exam?

  The best preparation is working hard in grammar school. Peterson's, Barron's and Princeton Review, among other test prep publishers, all publish study guides for the HSPT.

• What entrance exam does Saint Ignatius administer?

  Saint Ignatius administers the STS High School Placement Test or the HSPT.

• What criteria are used to select Saint Ignatius students?

  The entrance exam score and application contents are collectively reviewed for every applicant. The entrance exam score is important because our applicant pool is traditionally a large, diverse group of students from all over Chicagoland, representing a wide range of school grading scales and assessment frameworks. Following the entrance exam, students will submit an application. The application is used to submit report cards, previous standardized test scores, student and parent statements, and recommendations. Other considerations in the admissions process include but are not limited to: Catholic heritage/school, family legacy/tradition with the school (sibling/parent), and adherence to policies of the school. Saint Ignatius strives to promote a 50/50, male/female population. Saint Ignatius admits students without regard to race, color, and/or country of national origin.

• When are applicants notified of an admissions decision?

  Notification letters of acceptance, non-acceptance, or waiting list placement for the Class of 2031 will be emailed after 4:00 p.m. on January 29, 2027.

• When is the enrollment deadline?

  The enrollment deadline for the Class of 2031 is February 16, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.

• Do you offer scholarships?

  Saint Ignatius College Prep offers need-based financial aid. Applicants and their family can begin the financial aid application via FACTS. More than $7+ million in Financial Aid was awarded for the 2025-26 school year. The financial aid application opens on October 1, 2027 and is due on January 6, 2027. We will notify admitted students about a financial award by January 31, 2027. 

  
  Saint Ignatius also partners with several external scholarship organizations. These include:

  • Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation: www.dmsf.org
  • LINK Unlimited: www.linkunlimited.org
  • HIGHSIGHT: www.highsight.org
  • Holy Family Scholars: www.hfschicagoscholars.com

• What courses are offered at Saint Ignatius?

  You can find graduation requirements and a full course listing in our Curriculum and Course Planning Guide. Saint Ignatius currently offers 55 honors electives and 27 Advanced Placement courses. 

• How can I register for honors classes my freshman year?

  Saint Ignatius administers optional placement exams for math, foreign language, and world history each spring. We consider math placement testing and HSPT results in determining honors science placement. Placement exams for the Class of 2031 will take place on February 28 and March 6, 2027.

• What is the tuition at Saint Ignatius?

  Tuition for the 2026-27 school year is $24,300.

• What is the dress code at Saint Ignatius?

  Business casual is a simplified description of the Saint Ignatius dress code. Full dress code specifications are listed within our Dress and Appearance Standards. You can also find a link to the dress code guidelines on the Deans' Office page on the Student Life section of this website.

• What is the Parent Commitment Program?

  The Parent Commitment is a tax-deductible contribution, over and above tuition and fees, asked of all parents each year to help cover the annual deficit between tuition and school operating costs.

• What athletic teams does Saint Ignatius have?

  Saint Ignatius offers 34 interscholastic and club sports for both boys and girls. Check out Sports on Campus!

• What kind of clubs and co-curriculars does Saint Ignatius offer?

  Saint Ignatius has more than 70 co-curricular activities. Find out more at our Clubs & Activities!

• What is the iPad Program for the Class of 2031?

  For more information click here.