Nikki England President | Linkedin
Nikki England President | Linkedin
Data shows that students paid $36,626 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,034 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Baylor University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $51,738. Southern Careers Institute-Waco followed with an average of $17,900 per year. McLennan Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,217.
At the time, a total of $70.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the McLennan County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $23.1 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in McLennan County, including Baylor University, Southern Careers Institute-Waco, and McLennan Community College.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McLennan Community College | 682 | $3,943,573 | $5,782 | 124 | $405,683 | $3,272 |
| Baylor University | 3,202 | $65,349,104 | $20,409 | 1,335 | $21,831,074 | $16,353 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Waco | 225 | $835,998 | $3,716 | 165 | $863,684 | $5,234 |
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