Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Data shows that students paid $16,525 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $375 more than the previous school year.
Among the 10 institutions in the county, Alvernia University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $40,750. Albright College followed with an average of $28,230 per year. The Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,000.
At the time, a total of $35.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Berks County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $15.6 million.
Currently there are 10 higher education institutions in Berks County, including Empire Beauty School-Reading, Alvernia University, and Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Area Community College | 270 | $1,477,281 | $5,471 | 58 | $285,907 | $4,929 |
| Empire Beauty School-Reading | 15 | $83,737 | $5,582 | 17 | $126,750 | $7,456 |
| Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute | 141 | $868,551 | $6,160 | 133 | $915,336 | $6,882 |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | 1,504 | $10,100,957 | $6,716 | 1,087 | $7,244,542 | $6,665 |
| Alvernia University | 493 | $14,105,427 | $28,611 | 476 | $4,204,733 | $8,833 |
| Albright College | 391 | $8,680,417 | $22,201 | 311 | $2,329,003 | $7,489 |
| American Barber and Beauty Academy | 38 | $238,749 | $6,283 | 45 | $300,638 | $6,681 |
| Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences | 5 | $33,272 | $6,654 | 8 | $55,176 | $6,897 |
| European Medical School of Massage | 8 | $36,691 | $4,586 | 6 | $33,355 | $5,559 |
| Berks Career & Technology Center | 9 | $53,509 | $5,945 | 12 | $67,021 | $5,585 |
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