Average cost of college went up for students in Cambria County in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees rose 2.5% in Cambria County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $23,398 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $574 more than the previous school year.

Among the seven institutions in the county, Saint Francis University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $40,520. DLP Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center followed with an average of $32,081 per year. The Commonwealth Technical Institute students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,664.

At the time, a total of $22.5 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Cambria County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $9.6 million.

Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Cambria County, including Saint Francis University, Commonwealth Technical Institute, and Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.

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.