Dr. Charles Pollard President | John Brown University
Dr. Charles Pollard President | John Brown University
Data shows that students paid $9,398 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $446 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, John Brown University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $29,720. Ecclesia College followed with an average of $16,850 per year. NorthWest Arkansas Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,482.
At the time, a total of $8.6 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Benton County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $1.4 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Benton County, including NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Academy of Professional Cosmetology, and Ecclesia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecclesia College | 37 | $248,769 | $6,723 | 21 | $115,993 | $5,523 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | 459 | $1,729,439 | $3,768 | 95 | $444,346 | $4,677 |
| John Brown University | 302 | $6,582,254 | $21,796 | 134 | $777,298 | $5,801 |
| Academy of Professional Cosmetology | 10 | $27,525 | $2,753 | 8 | $44,823 | $5,603 |
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