Stable Enrollment Isn’t Just About Getting Students In Seats—It’s About Keeping Them There

Clint Holden, MA
Jun 14
3 min read

Updated: Jun 18

Why Tuition Assistance Should Come With a Side of Financial Education

Affordability isn’t just about aid—it’s about habits. Private schools across the country are stepping up to help families afford the cost of Christian or independent education. Generous tuition assistance, tiered tuition, and flexible payment plans are now common. And while these tools are vital in making education accessible, one crucial piece is often missing: financial education for the families themselves.

If we only write the check—or reduce the bill—without addressing how families manage their money, we may be perpetuating patterns that keep them stuck. Even worse, we might be inviting long-term risk into our enrollment.

The Hidden Cost of Poor Financial Habits

Many families who apply for tuition assistance are sincerely trying to provide the best for their children. But behind that noble desire can be a shaky financial foundation. In a 2023 Bankrate survey, 74% of Americans admitted to living paycheck to paycheck, and nearly half of respondents had no savings for emergencies. That doesn’t just apply to lower-income households—a surprising number of six-figure earners also report living month-to-month due to lifestyle choices and debt obligations.

For schools, this means that need and instability are not always the same thing. A family may qualify for aid based on low available income, but if their financial habits remain unchanged, they may:

Struggle to make even their reduced tuition payments
Leave the school after a year or two due to mounting financial pressure
Prioritize other debts over tuition when crisis hits

A tough truth: when push comes to shove, tuition will almost always lose out to creditors, car payments, or rent.

Scenario: The Hopeful Enrollee Who Never Pays

Imagine this: A family applies for aid, showing a low income but no clear budget or track record of meeting obligations. You offer generous assistance, hoping it will make enrollment possible.

They enroll—but by October, they’re already behind on payments. By Christmas, they’ve stopped responding to emails. By March, they’ve quietly withdrawn. It’s a heartbreaking cycle—and it happens more often than we like to admit.

Now imagine if, at the point of applying for aid, they had attended a one-hour workshop on creating a household budget, understanding fixed vs. discretionary expenses, and setting up auto-payments. That small investment in education could’ve changed the outcome—for everyone.

Scenario: The “Aid Veteran” Who’s Never Challenged to Grow

Another common profile is the long-term aid recipient who never moves the needle. Every year they qualify. Every year they list the same unmanageable expenses. And every year, no one questions it.

But here’s the thing: if a family receives substantial assistance for multiple years without any conversation about why they’re still in the same spot, we’ve missed an opportunity. Schools are not financial counselors—but they are educators. And this is one area where a little guidance can go a long way.

What Schools Can Do

You don’t have to become a financial coaching center. But here are some steps your school can take:

Offer a basic financial awareness seminar each year for applying or awarded families
Invite a parent or local expert to share simple tools and budgeting tips
Require a financial planning worksheet to be submitted alongside the aid application
Make one-on-one coaching available for families on the edge of affordability

These efforts don’t have to be fancy. Just intentional. And they send a strong message: “We care about your child’s education, but we also care about your family’s long-term ability to afford it.”

The Long Game Matters

Stable enrollment isn’t just about getting students in the seat—it’s about keeping them there. When families grow in their stewardship, your school grows in its sustainability. That’s a win for everyone.

Financial aid isn’t just a handout. It’s a lifeline. But when paired with financial awareness, it can become a springboard toward real, lasting change.

Authored by Clint Holden