WKU student raises college tuition through online crowdfunding, finds unexpected support

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The cost of going to college continues to rise — and for many Kentucky students, that means difficult choices between taking on debt or walking away from their dreams.

For Western Kentucky University student Ahmad Payne Jones, a Central High School graduate from Louisville, the price tag for in-state tuition — nearly $27,000 a year — was almost too much to handle.

"It hurts me to see that a lot of students are just in a place where they have to choose between a full-time job or education — and be in debt," Jones said.

Ahmad loves to sing. He helped organize a campus gospel choir that now has 26 members who meet regularly to rehearse and perform.

But music isn’t his career path.

“I’m majoring in criminology and minoring in psychology,” he said. “I want to be a detective when I grow up.”

Last week, Ahmad shared a Facebook post asking for help — saying he needed $3,500 to help cover tuition. He started a GoFundMe page, not sure if anyone would respond.

“Right now I have a very small community on Facebook and throughout Louisville,” he said. “I’ve raised over $4,000.”

Crowdfunding is becoming a mainstream way for students to bridge the gap between financial aid and tuition costs.

According to GoFundMe, the number of students using the platform to cover tuition has increased. In 2025, fundraising for tuition and related education expenses on GoFundMe rose by more than 20% compared to the previous year.

That same year, more than 630,000 donors supported individuals with tuition and education costs on the platform. GoFundMe says education remains one of its top causes nationwide, behind medical, memorial, and emergency needs.

In fact, the first fundraiser ever launched on GoFundMe was for a college fund.

Clanisha Coleman, owner and founder of Make It Count Consulting, works with students and parents as they navigate the path to higher education — and the money it takes to get there.

“It’s extremely difficult,” Coleman said. “Even when families qualify for financial aid, there’s often still a gap in funding. A lot of parents and students wait until senior year to find scholarships, which can be challenging.”

That’s when creativity — and community — can make a difference. “When students have no other way to get money, a lot of them turn to GoFundMe,” Coleman said. “It’s a popular platform because it tells a story, and people respond to that. It’s real.”

“My issues have turned into something way bigger than just me,” Jones said. “It’s about making sure that my peers — and their peers — can make it to college and be successful in anything they want to do.”

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