Can an Indiana ESA pay for tuition and school fees?
Tuition and fees at an approved private, public, magnet or charter school serving ESA students in grades K-12; the school must itself be an approved ESA participating entity.
Tuition and fees at an approved private, public, magnet or charter school serving ESA students in grades K-12; the school must itself be an approved ESA participating entity.
This is all the voucher pays: the tuition and fees reported on the Choice application, up to the district amount.
IDOE lists tuition and fees among SGO-qualified expenses at participating accredited nonpublic schools; each SGO sets its own terms.
Which rules apply in 2026-27?
- ESA tuition may include course fees, application or registration fees, lab and computer-lab fees, facility fees, required textbook fees, supply fees, tutoring fees and extracurricular programs the school bills.
- Additional programs, resources or staffing written into the student's education plan can be billed as part of tuition.
- A Choice school that wants ESA payments must apply separately to become an ESA participating entity; being on the Choice list is not enough.
- ESA tuition and fees to a qualified school are paid before other expenses each quarter, according to the ESA parent handbook.
What does the ESA refuse under tuition and school fees?
The state excludes: online or virtual schools and distance-learning programs (esa); uniforms, clothing, shoes, cap and gown; room, board and meal plans; postsecondary tuition; payment processing fees.
How does this play out for Indianapolis-area families?
In this metro, 55 schools appear as approved ESA school providers on IDOE's August 31, 2026 sheet, a much shorter list than the 120 on the Choice list. Ask the business office whether it invoices through ClassWallet before you count on the ESA for tuition.
| Allowed (ESA) | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| ESA tuition may include course fees, application or registration fees, lab and computer-lab fees, facility fees, required textbook fees, supply fees, tutoring fees and extracurricular programs the school bills. | Online or virtual schools and distance-learning programs (ESA) |
| Additional programs, resources or staffing written into the student's education plan can be billed as part of tuition. | Uniforms, clothing, shoes, cap and gown |
| A Choice school that wants ESA payments must apply separately to become an ESA participating entity; being on the Choice list is not enough. | Room, board and meal plans |
| ESA tuition and fees to a qualified school are paid before other expenses each quarter, according to the ESA parent handbook. | Postsecondary tuition |
| Payment processing fees |
Sources: Indiana Treasurer of State, ESA Spending Categories (revised March 27, 2024), which IDOE's February 2026 ESA FAQ says remain the approved categories for 2026-27; IDOE ESA program page, Common Eligibility Determination Requests (checked October 2026); IDOE Choice and SGO program pages. A summary, not legal advice; the ESA handbook controls.