Students paid more for higher education in Howard County in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees rose 2.9% in Howard County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $12,566 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $360 more than the previous school year.

Among the two institutions in the county, Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $27,140. Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies followed with an average of $6,960 per year.

At the time, a total of $5.6 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Howard County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $1.4 million.

Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.

According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.

Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.

Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.