Has anyone succesfully negotiated their private school tuition?
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Anonymous
| We have 4 kids at a 30k a year private school and while we can technically afford it we do not qualify for financial aid and find it fiscally irresponsible. Has anyone had luck going to the school and negotiating a better rate outside of financial aid? |
Anonymous
| What's your general financial picture? |
Anonymous
| They don’t usually like to give a negotiated break. But they may give you discount under the pretense of financial aid even if you make good money. So I would apply and let them know. |
Anonymous
| Agree. Apply for aid. |
Anonymous
| Is there a sibling discount? |
Anonymous
| You find what fiscally irresponsible? Paying for private school for 4? Then why are you doing it? |
Anonymous
This, if you can afford it, why should they negotiate because you choose to have 4 kids. You should have considered that before you had 4 kids or move them to a cheaper school. |
Anonymous
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I've seen it done, but only once.
In that case, the parent had some credible leverage over the Admissions Department. Because of the long association of one of the parents with the school, a significant number of alums probably would have been upset/annoyed if the parent chose not to send their kid there. The Admissions people would have been cast as the "bad guys". If you have no leverage or a credible alternative, the school will have scant reason to start cutting price. The logic being, "If you do it for one. ..." |
Anonymous
I had the same question. There seems to be some sort of entitlement thing happening here. |
Anonymous
Most parochial schools offer sibling discounts. You should persuade your school to do the same -- makes all the sense in the world. |
Anonymous
Most, if not all, schools will politely suggest that you apply for financial aid. The only way this might work is if you start the school year and your financial situation changes drastically mid-year, a school might work out a payment plan or reduced tuition for the remainder of the year. But no school is going to want to get into a negotiation with you if you're just looking to reduce your costs. |
Anonymous
Why would it make all the sense in the world for the school? If OP wouldn't qualify for aid even with four kids, why should the school offer a separate discount? It makes more sense for them to provide discounts (aid) to those who can't otherwise afford it. |
Anonymous
| OP, I think you should talk to the school. What do you have to lose? I would think the school would want to work with you rather than face the possibility of losing four spaces. |
Anonymous
| If you are already paying full price, it will be tough to talk them into a reduction. They already know you can afford to pay full price. |
Anonymous
Because any business offers volume discounts. Why? Because it makes things easier to run, and lowers marketing costs. And yes, private schools are businesses. |