January 19, 2026
Hidden costs are eroding trust in higher education tuition — Apex Media Partners offers a path forward
Making faith-based education transparent, accessible and mission-focused
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hidden and poorly explained college costs are eroding trust in higher education, as students and families increasingly expect clear, upfront financial information.
Apex Media Partners, a leading media strategy firm that helps higher education sustain long-term growth, is working with Christian colleges to counter persistent affordability misconceptions. The firm is equipping institutions with transparent, data-driven media strategies that build trust, increase engagement and demonstrate the long-term value of faith-integrated education.
“Affordability perception has become one of the greatest barriers facing Christian higher education today,” said Van Mylar, Vice President of Client Strategy and Growth at Apex Media Partners. “When families understand the full scope of costs — and the lifelong return on formation, faith and vocation — trust grows, and enrollment follows.”
Over the past decade, dozens of Christian colleges that once anchored their communities have closed or merged, often overwhelmed by financial pressure and public skepticism about value. What’s at risk, Mylar argues, is more than market share.
“What is being dismantled is not simply a sector of the education market, but an infrastructure devoted to integrating faith and learning for life,” Mylar said.
Apex Media’s work with Hillsdale College shows how clear messaging can expand access to higher education. When awareness of Hillsdale’s free online courses peaked after initial radio promotion, Apex Media helped the college reach more interested families through a refined national television approach.
During a 10-week awareness and education program, the initiative generated 12,000 registered online students.
“These results show that Christian education is not only compelling — it is competitive when its value is clearly communicated,” Mylar said.
In a recent op-ed, Mylar argued that Christian colleges provide a form of education that cannot be replicated by content alone or outsourced to digital platforms. The intentional integration of faith and intellectual life, he wrote, forms graduates prepared to lead with conviction, resilience and moral clarity.
“The work of integrating faith and learning is as urgent now as it has ever been,” Mylar wrote. “If American Christians are concerned about the formative power of secular institutions, we must invest intentionally in schools that remain unapologetically committed to their mission.”
Apex Media Partners, LLC is a full-service media and marketing agency with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations — including ministries and universities — engage communities with purpose-driven resources. Now at the forefront of streaming media and digital outreach, Apex Media develops far-reaching strategies to connect audiences and inspire transformation. For more information, visit www.apexmedia.com.
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To interview Apex Media Partners, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Curt Harding, charding@hamiltonstratetegies.com.
