Lori Kloos President | St Cloud Technical and Community College
Lori Kloos President | St Cloud Technical and Community College
Data shows that students paid $16,577 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $702 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Saint Johns University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $52,164. The College of Saint Benedict followed with an average of $52,108 per year. St Cloud Technical and Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,075.
At the time, a total of $32.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Stearns County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $8.9 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Stearns County, including Saint Johns University, Model College of Hair Design, and Rasmussen University-Minnesota.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Cloud State University | 543 | $3,989,888 | $7,348 | 314 | $2,844,925 | $9,060 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | 66 | $510,998 | $7,742 | 62 | $605,768 | $9,770 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | 227 | $1,279,684 | $5,637 | 141 | $772,944 | $5,482 |
| Model College of Hair Design | 46 | $116,760 | $2,538 | 48 | $133,846 | $2,788 |
| Saint Johns University | 383 | $14,331,345 | $37,419 | 238 | $2,380,905 | $10,004 |
| College of Saint Benedict | 324 | $12,043,989 | $37,173 | 212 | $2,152,404 | $10,153 |
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