Drum Corps has become a 'resume box check' for future music/movement educators (some of whom will morph into pageantry leeches ($0.02 to Poppycock)).
Rant on:
I still am in touch with many who I marched with. Out of ~50 members, we have only 2 who became music educators/band directors. We also have 2 college professors, 2 military officers, several who work in tech, some in financial world, an Alaska crab fisherman, business owners, government employees, and Catholic Priest (no one saw that coming in 1983). Drum Corps positively shaped our lives, and if you expand this to all the small 1980s Corps, I think it made society better as well. For better or worse, Drum Corps has turned into the marching arts version of a summer football camp, people who want to perform at the next level will pay to do it.
Rant off:
So, now to address your dilemma: Several ideas: (1) Ask Battalion if they have programs available to help with tuition. (2a) Get a job & save every dime between now & April/May. (2b) When Corps start advertising that they need members in this section or that, and are willing to reduce tuition, pounce. IDK if DCI is running the 'Fill Every Corps' thing this year, but this may be useful as well.
Keep in mind that to have the Drum Corps experience you don't need to be in a DCI finalist.
Edit: If you go route 2, be flexible. IDK what you play (or spin), but of Corps needs mellos & you play trumpet, offer your services. If you play snare, consider a position in the pit or on tenor/bass.