Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Data shows that students paid $9,012 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $284 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Allen College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $20,008. The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls followed with an average of $16,900 per year. Hawkeye Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,100.
At the time, at least $9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Black Hawk County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $6.1 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Black Hawk County, including University of Northern Iowa, Hawkeye Community College, and The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls | 30 | $124,526 | $4,151 | 30 | $244,256 | $8,142 |
| Hawkeye Community College | 498 | $3,086,297 | $6,197 | 296 | $1,493,514 | $5,046 |
| La James International College-Cedar Falls | 21 | $140,046 | $6,669 | 21 | $133,425 | $6,354 |
| University of Northern Iowa | 1,060 | $5,644,697 | $5,325 | 639 | $4,277,366 | $6,694 |
| Allen College | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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