John H. Dozier, President | Columbia College
John H. Dozier, President | Columbia College
Data shows that students paid $22,046 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $98 more than the previous school year.
Among the 10 institutions in the county, Columbia International University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $26,840. Southeastern College-Columbia followed with an average of $23,324 per year. Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $8,150.
At the time, a total of $54.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Richland County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $39.1 million.
Currently there are 10 higher education institutions in Richland County, including Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia, Columbia College, and Allen 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern Esthetics Institute | 230 | $922,186 | $4,010 | 263 | $1,357,462 | $5,161 |
| Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology-Columbia | 34 | $181,706 | $5,344 | 36 | $256,915 | $7,137 |
| South University-Columbia | 14 | $128,600 | $9,186 | 12 | $84,519 | $7,043 |
| Fortis College-Columbia | 67 | $484,802 | $7,236 | 62 | $513,929 | $8,289 |
| Southeastern College-Columbia | 39 | $218,280 | $5,597 | 36 | $484,120 | $13,448 |
| Allen University | 164 | $2,255,866 | $13,755 | 135 | $800,844 | $5,932 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia | 5,998 | $40,559,968 | $6,762 | 3,225 | $32,445,576 | $10,061 |
| Benedict College | 355 | $4,182,025 | $11,780 | 262 | $1,569,910 | $5,992 |
| Columbia College | 180 | $2,513,034 | $13,961 | 150 | $848,426 | $5,656 |
| Columbia International University | 155 | $2,926,935 | $18,883 | 100 | $709,700 | $7,097 |
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