Vito J Villani Founder | Lehigh Valley Barber School
Vito J Villani Founder | Lehigh Valley Barber School
Data shows that students paid $36,606 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,369 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Lehigh University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $59,930. Lafayette College followed with an average of $59,368 per year. Northampton County Area Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $10,778.
At the time, a total of $74.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Northampton County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $14.4 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Northampton County, including Northampton County Area Community College, Lafayette College, and Lehigh Valley Barber School.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh Valley Barber School | 45 | $262,935 | $5,843 | 53 | $353,775 | $6,675 |
| Lafayette College | 394 | $17,385,653 | $44,126 | 156 | $1,738,704 | $11,146 |
| Lehigh University | 885 | $38,624,697 | $43,644 | 621 | $6,077,313 | $9,786 |
| Northampton County Area Community College | 649 | $4,130,477 | $6,364 | 397 | $2,563,193 | $6,456 |
| Moravian University | 425 | $14,283,002 | $33,607 | 340 | $3,677,788 | $10,817 |
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