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

College tuition fees rose 2.7% in Dauphin County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $11,805 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $307 more than the previous school year.

Among the five institutions in the county, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $23,900. Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg followed with an average of $19,775 per year. Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,300.

At the time, a total of $11.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Dauphin County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $7.1 million.

Currently there are five higher education institutions in Dauphin County, including Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg.

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.