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Part 4 of 4: Tuition, Contracts, and Scheduling
6) How does the tuition work?
One of the other keys to finding the perfect school for you
is the tuition. Now while the investment
you are making is important, the bottom-line figure is again not the most
critical piece.
In general, the rule in all commerce is you get what you pay
for. For some items, that is not as critical.
But for most, especially when it comes to our children, it is
essential. However, that’s not to say
that there are some excellent schools out there that charge $100/mo
, or some horrendous schools that charge $300/mo. It is key to do your due diligence, as previously discussed.
, or some horrendous schools that charge $300/mo. It is key to do your due diligence, as previously discussed.
A couple key things to be aware of:
- The average tuition nationally ranges anywhere from
$150-$200 for a professional martial arts school, per the Martial Arts Industry
Association.
- All schools have a contract or agreement of some sort. What
matters most, like in any contract, are the terms. The most important part is the cancellation
policy. My personal belief, and the
policy of American Martial Arts Academy, is that every program can be cancelled
at anytime with a 30-day notice. Some schools require a 60-90 day notice, which
is acceptable as well. However, we ask
that if the challenge is motivation, we have an opportunity to figure out what could
be wrong, and an opportunity to find a solution.
- Some schools (including ours) offer payment-in-full options
and discounts. Some schools also offer
long-term programs as well (i.e. Black Belt Club, Leadership Programs, Masters
Programs). These can be excellent
programs, however it is key that they all
have clear cancellation policies in case of a move, or motivation challenges, etc. In a future post, we will discuss how to deal with a motivational challenge as a parent.
have clear cancellation policies in case of a move, or motivation challenges, etc. In a future post, we will discuss how to deal with a motivational challenge as a parent.
7) Is the schedule flexible enough?
What good is the best martial arts programs, instructors,
and facilities if you can’t make it to the classes? In order to truly gain the benefits of a quality
martial arts program, we recommend attending classes at least 2-3 times per
week. Once a week is very difficult without additional private lessons as well.
A professional school should have classes available 6 days
per week, with lots of beginner classes. If the schedule is lop-sided (more
advanced classes than beginner classes), that generally is not a great sign.
Other Key Questions
To Ask:- Is the school a member of the Chamber of Commerce?
- How long has the school been around?
- Has the school been continuously under the same ownership?
- Does the owner live in the area?
- Does the school offer any other activities or events?
We hope this has helped; if you have any questions, feel free
to contact me below.
Director, American Martial Arts Academy (Placentia-Yorba Linda Campus)
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