Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University | Pacific Lutheran University
Allan Belton, President, Pacific Lutheran University | Pacific Lutheran University
Data shows that students paid $12,873 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $264 more than the previous school year.
Among the 10 institutions in the county, the University of Puget Sound stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $57,626. Pacific Lutheran University followed with an average of $50,928 per year. Pierce College District students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,546.
At the time, a total of $48.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Pierce County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $6.7 million.
Currently there are 10 higher education institutions in Pierce County, including Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Community College, and Bates Technical College.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Salon Academy | 71 | $364,334 | $5,131 | 104 | $701,347 | $6,744 |
| Tacoma Community College | 451 | $2,823,910 | $6,261 | 116 | $585,843 | $5,050 |
| University of Puget Sound | 402 | $13,330,602 | $33,161 | 212 | $1,545,854 | $7,292 |
| Northwest College of Art & Design | 39 | $391,231 | $10,032 | 25 | $188,291 | $7,532 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | 458 | $6,192,662 | $13,521 | 161 | $846,426 | $5,257 |
| Faith International University | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Clover Park Technical College | 141 | $1,100,173 | $7,803 | 12 | $93,709 | $7,809 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | 520 | $20,521,104 | $39,464 | 261 | $1,884,464 | $7,220 |
| Pierce College District | 448 | $2,853,381 | $6,369 | 148 | $755,781 | $5,107 |
| Bates Technical College | 129 | $1,130,810 | $8,766 | 9 | $50,356 | $5,595 |
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