Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Data shows that students paid $22,607 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $822 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, The University of Alabama stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $25,102. Stillman College followed with an average of $11,392 per year. Shelton State Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,171.
At the time, a total of $99 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Tuscaloosa County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $39 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Tuscaloosa County, including The University of Alabama, Shelton State Community College, and Stillman College.
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.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelton State Community College | 517 | $3,179,331 | $6,150 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Stillman College | 126 | $1,394,816 | $11,070 | 101 | $626,843 | $6,206 |
| The University of Alabama | 5,759 | $94,410,187 | $16,394 | 3,205 | $38,406,179 | $11,983 |
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