Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | Official website
Data shows that students paid $7,150 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $316 charged for the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Avery James College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $17,800. Stage One-The Hair School followed with an average of $16,500 per year. SOWELA Technical Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,265.
At the time, a total of $11.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Calcasieu Parish universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $2.3 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Calcasieu Parish, including SOWELA Technical Community College, Avery James College, and McNeese State University.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOWELA Technical Community College | 395 | $2,975,988 | $7,534 | 6 | $34,137 | $5,690 |
| Avery James College | 28 | $150,468 | $5,374 | 30 | $95,333 | $3,178 |
| McNeese State University | 838 | $7,884,780 | $9,409 | 367 | $2,031,846 | $5,536 |
| Stage One-The Hair School | 31 | $161,151 | $5,198 | 30 | $134,858 | $4,495 |
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