Michael Bouman President/COO | National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences
Michael Bouman President/COO | National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences
Data shows that students paid $6,905 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $637 charged for the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Empire Beauty School-Augusta stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $19,260. Paine College followed with an average of $14,596 per year. Augusta Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,382.
At the time, a total of $11.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Richmond County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $3.1 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Richmond County, including Empire Beauty School-Augusta, Augusta Technical College, and Augusta 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta Technical College | 263 | $1,825,477 | $6,941 | 5 | $25,750 | $5,150 |
| Empire Beauty School-Augusta | 33 | $179,730 | $5,446 | 30 | $257,000 | $8,567 |
| Augusta University | 950 | $8,470,138 | $8,916 | 409 | $2,227,498 | $5,446 |
| Paine College | 84 | $866,546 | $10,316 | 69 | $586,190 | $8,496 |
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