Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education | Official website
Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education | Official website
Data shows that students paid $7,486 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $876 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, International Beauty School 4 stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $25,000. Valley College-Martinsburg followed with an average of $15,995 per year. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,295.
At the time, a total of $6.9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Berkeley County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $2 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Berkeley County, including Valley College-Martinsburg, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, and Martinsburg 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley College-Martinsburg | 134 | $805,097 | $6,008 | 128 | $1,303,105 | $10,181 |
| James Rumsey Technical Institute | 56 | $229,267 | $4,094 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| International Beauty School 4 | 85 | $451,023 | $5,306 | 85 | $418,421 | $4,923 |
| Martinsburg College | 798 | $4,584,260 | $5,745 | 42 | $126,294 | $3,007 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 141 | $873,064 | $6,192 | 46 | $173,396 | $3,769 |
Alerts Sign-up