Jessica Doggett, Regional Director at Paul Mitchel The School Columbus and Cleveland | Instagram
Jessica Doggett, Regional Director at Paul Mitchel The School Columbus and Cleveland | Instagram
Data shows that students paid $12,870 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $708 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Paul Mitchell the School-Cleveland stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $21,198. Portage Lakes Career Center followed with an average of $15,995 per year. Gerbers Akron Beauty School students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $11,490.
At the time, a total of $19.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Summit County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $7.6 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Summit County, including Herzing University-Akron, Portage Lakes Career Center, and Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portage Lakes Career Center | 28 | $158,807 | $5,672 | 34 | $210,133 | $6,180 |
| Herzing University-Akron | 41 | $252,527 | $6,159 | 34 | $298,058 | $8,766 |
| Gerbers Akron Beauty School | 17 | $74,390 | $4,376 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | 1,946 | $18,393,165 | $9,452 | 941 | $6,454,557 | $6,859 |
| Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls | 43 | $301,047 | $7,001 | 38 | $298,194 | $7,847 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Cleveland | 36 | $218,725 | $6,076 | 43 | $383,742 | $8,924 |
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