Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Data shows that students paid $6,488 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $6 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $17,766. Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia followed with an average of $16,500 per year. Midlands Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,074.
At the time, a total of $11 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Lexington County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $1.7 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Lexington County, including Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia, Midlands Technical College, and Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Mitchell the School-Columbia | 11 | $59,650 | $5,423 | 10 | $101,449 | $10,145 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and Nails-Columbia | 40 | $222,695 | $5,567 | 39 | $324,220 | $8,313 |
| Midlands Technical College | 1,411 | $10,721,973 | $7,599 | 219 | $1,264,676 | $5,775 |
Alerts Sign-up