Private Colleges Adjust Tuition to Help Boost Enrollment
Private colleges face mounting enrollment troubles as potential students turn away from their tuition rates. While schools commonly offer scholarships and other forms of aid, high advertised tuition can cause sticker shock and drive prospective students away before they can factor in financial aid.
Private Colleges Adjust Tuition to Help Boost Enrollment
According to the Portland Business Journal, “Most small, private schools rely heavily on tuition dollars to operate.” One part of private colleges’ financial woes is a shrinking pool of future students, which could reduce enrollment income.
“A smaller demographic is reaching college age, and that demographic is increasingly skeptical of the value proposition of college. Those that do decide to go are seeing smaller price tags at larger schools that have flashy sports stadiums, Greek life, and similar degrees.”
That, according to some, leaves independent private schools “scouring for ways to maintain enrollment levels and in turn, balance their budgets.” To address this enrollment problem, many schools are considering, or already offering, lower tuition rates or need-based free tuition.
This benefits military personnel leaving active duty and college-age dependents looking to attend college. But what are their options? Who is cutting tuition to encourage more enrollment?
>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.
Schools With Reduced Tuition
As of this writing in 2026, the information below is current, but your experience may vary depending on the institution, current promotions, and other variables. The numbers below are provided for information purposes only.
Coe College in Iowa cut published undergraduate tuition 45 percent, from $58,780 to $31,850.
Carroll College in Montana cut undergraduate tuition 40 percent, from $44,712 to $26,800. Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, cut tuition 20 percent, dropping from $27,200 to $21,700.
Because these tuition drops bring charges below the $30,908.34 federal threshold, eligible veterans may be able to attend without needing Yellow Ribbon Program funds to cover the gap between public and private education costs.
>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.
Schools With Earnings-Based Tuition
Denison University in Ohio announced free tuition beginning in fall 2027 for students from families earning $100,000 or less, with tiered pricing caps for households making up to $400,000. Denison University President Adam Weinberg said the policy “provides clarity earlier” for applicants.
Earlham College in Indiana and Newberry College in South Carolina established free tuition for in-state students from families earning $100,000 or less. Washington College in Maryland set an income cap of $75,000 for in-state students.
Schools with larger endowments established higher ceilings. Middlebury College in Vermont, which reported a $1.7 billion endowment in fiscal 2025, covers tuition for families earning up to $175,000. Wellesley College in Massachusetts, backed by a $3.2 billion endowment in fiscal 2025, guarantees free tuition for families making up to $200,000.
Additional schools introduced regional programs. Trinity College in Connecticut covers tuition, room, and board for Hartford residents. Marist University in New York provides targeted awards for state residents earning up to $200,000. Carleton College in Minnesota removed student loans from undergraduate aid packages.
Not all schools lower tuition, but these trends are worth noting, as they may help shape the overall cost of higher education in the 21st century.
>> Find VA-approved schools — try our School Finder tool.
About the author
Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
