Board Thread:Speculation House/@comment-27404492-20170708180328/@comment-26397825-20170913043827

KingFubuki, the monetary issue comes into it as being part of the reason she joined the White Fang. If her parents died or were injured and lost their jobs, they would not have been able to pay for her schooling at the expensive Atlas school. If they can't pay, the school won't let her continue studying there - especially since she is a Faunus, so a 'payment plan' option likely wouldn't even be offered.

Therefore she leaves the school due to not being able to pay her tuition and gets picked up by the White Fang in her moment of weakness.