Sticker Shock: The Dollars and Sense of Christian Education

Understanding the True Cost and Value of Equipping Students with a Biblical Worldview

Christian education is gaining momentum. In fact, Dr. Cy Smith described it best in a recent episode of the Clearly Christian Podcast when he shared, “Outside of the 60s and the 70s, private schools have never had this much momentum. Some are calling this, in fact, a second renaissance of Christian education.”

But as more families choose Christian schools and universities, the conversation often turns to the same pressing question: Why does it cost so much? And maybe even more importantly, is it really worth it?

Dr. Greg Miller, President of Malone University, joined Dr. Smith recently on an episode of the Clearly Christian Podcast. He offered a perspective that most parents and even many educators don’t always see.

Dr. Miller explains that a university campus is essentially a small city. There are hundreds of acres to maintain, dozens of buildings to heat and cool, technology to keep current, and a network of staff supporting every student and faculty member. Even something as routine as renegotiating a utility contract can lead to a sudden $250,000 increase in expenses, before anyone even sets foot in a classroom.  These expenses factor into rising tuition, and they can not be avoided.

Sticker shock is common when families first see tuition numbers nearing $40,000 per year. But Dr. Miller shared that the real picture is more encouraging than it appears on paper. He explained, “Tuition is listed from Malone at almost $40,000 a year. But when you average out what our families pay… our net tuition revenue lands at between 13 and $14,000.”

This significant discounting is part of what makes Christian higher education accessible, but it also means schools must be creative and committed fundraisers. Dr. Smith adds that it’s not free money. “You can't just give those dollars away and say, I'm going to discount it” he says.  “If you don't have that coming in, it's just phantom revenue, and that's going to catch up with you”.

“Just because we’re a not-for-profit institution”, says Dr. Miller, “ doesn’t mean that we’re for loss.” Schools must be sustainable and financially healthy to continue offering a high-quality, Christ-centered education. 

So, what kind of return are private Christian schools delivering?  What sets Malone and other faith-based schools like Mansfield Christian School apart isn’t just the academics. It’s the holistic approach to shaping students spiritually, emotionally, and morally. As Dr. Miller put it, “We are geared at producing a particular kind of person who is going to be able to flourish through life as a believer according to God's plan for their flourishing.”

This means every course is taught through the lens of faith, not as an afterthought, but as a central theme woven into each discipline. In something as practical as accounting, for example, Malone professors explore what Scripture has to say about money, integrity, and purpose. It’s an education designed to prepare students for a career, but also to prepare them to live lives of conviction and service.

Consider what this approach can mean to Career-Based and Trades education.  As the workforce evolves, Malone is adapting right along with it. One of the most exciting developments is a new program blending business administration and welding, creating a pathway for students to gain hands-on trade skills, earn a college degree, and grow spiritually, all in one place. Programs like this break the old mold and recognize that today’s skilled trades require advanced technology, leadership, and critical thinking.  

Mansfield Christian School is a pioneer in this kind of trades-based Christian education.  It makes sense that a welder, a plumber, an electrician, etc., would operate from a biblical perspective.  Dr. Smith says, “This is the high calling for us believers as humans and God's greatest creation to take care of each other in this way and not to think less of the guy who owns a construction company and provides housing and apartments and things like that. This is glorifying to the Lord and absolutely essential.”

At the heart of it all is the conviction that Christian education shapes not only what students know but who they become. As Dr. Smith shared toward the end of their conversation, “Society needs a particular kind of person.” Christian schools are answering that call by producing difference makers, graduates who are prepared to serve, lead, and live out their faith in a world that desperately needs hope and truth.

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For more information about Dr. Cy Smith, Mansfield Christian School, and/or the Clearly Christian Education movement, click on ClearlyChristianEducation.com.