Maria Sophia Aguirre, PhD President | Catholic Distance University
Maria Sophia Aguirre, PhD President | Catholic Distance University
Data shows that students paid $7,661 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $33 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Shepherd University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $11,973. Catholic Distance University followed with an average of $8,880 per year. American Public University System students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,360.
At the time, at least $4.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Jefferson County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $2.9 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Jefferson County, including American Public University System, Catholic Distance University, and Shepherd University.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic Distance University | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| American Public University System | 72 | $434,614 | $6,036 | 30 | $275,020 | $9,167 |
| Shepherd University | 516 | $4,222,675 | $8,183 | 287 | $2,633,809 | $9,177 |
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