This month we wanted to address a question we get fairly regularly from clients. “Is it worth it to pay for Catholic college for my child?” It’s not as straightforward an answer as you would think.
Here’s our take.
Before we get into it, we are financial advisors in Northern Virginia, serving clients in the surrounding area and across the country. We are loyal followers of Christ and lifelong Catholics, serving Catholic clients who seeking financial advice for their families.
Here are some blogs related to Catholic financial planning that you may want to check out:
5 Tips for finding a good Catholic financial planner
Am I not putting God first by wanting to grow my wealth?
Should I invest in Catholic mutual funds?
And now onto the blog!
Catholic colleges have their merits more than ever!
College is a time of self discovery and transition to young adulthood. It is a critical point in your child’s life.
Given the risks that abound, it’s easy for young people to lose themselves these days. A student surrounded by a community that does not emphasize morals and values may fall to the wrong path, engage in unsavory behaviors, lose their identity, and even fall to anxiety or mental illness. A Catholic college reinforces the virtues of the faith, such as:
- Integrity,
- Prudence,
- Temperance,
- Courage,
- Charitableness,
- Hard work,
- Personal accountability, and
- Justice.
You’d be giving your child the opportunity to grow closer to God while apart from you during this critical time. These colleges tend to foster a stronger sense of responsibility to the community and accountability to God than their secular counterparts.
Many argue that Catholic colleges are influenced by leftist ideology and aren’t as strong in the faith as they used to be. While this may be true in a number of cases, it’s no reason to abandon the idea. The Catholic virtues are only more critical in this type of environment, and a challenging college culture has spurred some students to greater critical thinking and conviction.
However, given the infiltration from the left, it’s important for parents to be discerning about what exactly they are paying for. With resources from organizations like The Cardinal Newman Society available, families have more opportunities now than ever before to evaluate and investigate candidate colleges in advance and choose carefully for alignment of values.
Is college even worth it anymore?
At the root of this debate is an even bigger question.
Is any college (secular, Catholic, or otherwise) financially worth it these days?
With the costs of college so high, every parent should ponder this. According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of college is $38,270 per student annually. Catholic schools tend to come with a higher sticker price, as they are usually private institutions.
It’s helpful to consider that not all high school graduates are meant for college; it shouldn’t be assumed to be the automatic next step. Pursuing trade school, an apprenticeship or internship, or the military may be a better route. For others, taking a “gap year” and working may allow them time to gain focus and maturity before going to college.
Tips for holding a family meeting
Figuring out if Catholic school works for your student is a matter of effective family communication. Hold a Family Financial Summit.
Here are some talking points to get the conversation started.
- What do they see as the purpose they are called to in their life? How does Christ play a part?
- What do they see as the point of going to college? If there is a lack of clarity about what skills and knowledge they intend to get out of it, and what they intend to do with it afterwards, that may signal a lack of commitment.
- What type of an effort do they see themselves making to engage with the Catholic community? Do they intend to actively seek out Catholic colleagues, or is it not something they would choose to pursue?
- If your child were to encounter opposition to their faith, how would they handle it? How are they likely to respond to social pressure from secular colleagues?
- To what degree are the Catholic virtues important to them, at this point and in the foreseeable future?
- Which colleges are your child and you considering, how healthy is their Catholic identity and community, and will this be a determining factor in your decision?
- How will you, as a family, afford the cost of college? Will your student take out loans, get financial aid, or get a part-time job? What savings have already accrued in 529 plans and other vehicles?
Get a plan for yourselves too!
Financial planning is an important tool for parents of college-bound children. Often you are faced with the stress of having to manage tuition payments, saving for your retirement, and any other family expenses (mortgage, car loans, supporting other dependent children, etc.).
We advise parents not to make any financial decisions about college without a solid financial plan for themselves. This will provide you with a clear vision of what expenses you are likely to be responsible for at this point and future points (pre-retirement, retirement, etc.), what income you will be available to afford them, and how much you need to save to make it all work.
We are Catholic financial advisors serving families in Manassas, Virginia, and the surrounding area. We create financial plans that help Catholic people make major life decisions as they pursue their life goals, and our advice is consistent with the teachings and doctrine of the Catholic Church. If you would like to meet with us, please set up a time to speak.
Timothy Mayer

Timothy Mayer is a Catholic financial advisor and a principal of PrimeauMayer Financial, a financial advisory firm that provides wealth management solutions to families, successful business owners and executives: investment management, financial planning, tax mitigation, effective wealth transfer to take care of heirs, asset protection, and magnification of charitable gifts.