Pricing Pressures and Financial Sustainability: Rebeka Mazzone on the Future of Small Colleges
On this episode of EdUp Accreditation Insights, my cohost Laurie Shanderson and I were joined by Rebeka Mazzone, Principal at FuturEdFinance. Rebeka brings deep expertise in financial strategy, working alongside colleges and universities as they confront the realities of an increasingly competitive higher education market.
In Part One of our conversation, Rebeka unpacked one of the most pressing issues for small institutions today: intensifying pricing pressures. With shifting demographics, heightened competition, and increasing skepticism about the value of a degree, many colleges are finding themselves caught between the need to remain accessible to students and the need to sustain their operations. Rebeka highlighted how these forces collide to create a fragile business model, especially for tuition-dependent institutions already stretched thin.
What stood out in her perspective was the way she connected financial strategy to mission clarity. As Rebeka pointed out, institutions that chase quick fixes often erode trust and stability, while those that step back to realign pricing, programming, and purpose are better positioned for long-term viability. Her analysis underscored that sustainability isn’t simply a numbers game; it’s about creating coherent strategies that balance affordability for students with the resources required to deliver a high-quality education.
This episode serves as a wake-up call for leaders, especially presidents, trustees, and accreditation professionals, who are grappling with strategic decisions that will shape the future of their institutions. Rebeka’s insights remind us that while the financial headwinds are strong, institutions still have agency in how they respond.