Postsecondary education, such as a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree, is a key pathway to economic mobility for many Americans (Ma, Pender, and Welch, 2020), but it can be a risky investment. That is to say, postsecondary education is a good investment on average, but individual experiences can vary widely (see, e.g., Cooper, 2021; Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, 2022). The need to pay tuition up front—before the education pays off in the form of a job—can pose an additional barrier for students.