Tuition fees for in-state students at Pierce College District rose by 4.2% during the 2022-23 school year, based on the latest figures released, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Washington residents paid $4,539 to attend the four-year public college this year, an increase of $183 from the $4,356 charged in the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students faced tuition costs 8% higher than those for residents in 2022-23, amounting to $4,902. This represents a 1.7% rise from $4,818 in the previous school year.
Approximately 98% of the undergraduate student body at the college are Washington residents, while about 2% come from other states.
Data indicates that 49% of full-time undergraduates who enrolled at Pierce College District in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. A total of 448 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $2.9 million, and 148 students borrowed over $755,781 in student loans.
Among all undergraduate students, 2,391 received grants or scholarships totaling $15.6 million. Additionally, 914 students secured $5.7 million in federal student loans.
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.
The following data includes only full-time students who began an undergraduate program at the Pierce College District in the 2022-23 school year.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 297 | 28% | $1.4 million | $4,674 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 378 | 36% | $1.3 million | $3,494 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 105 | 10% | $144,477 | $1,376 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 448 | 42% | $2.9 million | $6,369 |
| Federal student loans | 146 | 14% | $727,035 | $4,980 |
| Other student loans | 0 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| Student loan aid | 148 | 14% | $755,781 | $5,107 |
| Total student aid | 521 | 49% | $3.6 million | $6,927 |
Information in this story was obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. The source data can be found here.
