Nichols Greg, President | Salina Area Technical College
Nichols Greg, President | Salina Area Technical College
Data shows that students paid $19,221 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $450 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Kansas Wesleyan University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $32,470. Hays Academy of Hair Design followed with an average of $15,100 per year. Salina Area Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,320.
At the time, a total of $5.6 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Saline County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $1.9 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Saline County, including Hays Academy of Hair Design, Kansas Wesleyan University, and Salina Area 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Wesleyan University | 229 | $5,110,817 | $22,318 | 187 | $1,524,450 | $8,152 |
| Salina Area Technical College | 53 | $342,119 | $6,455 | 23 | $119,673 | $5,203 |
| Hays Academy of Hair Design | 27 | $138,477 | $5,129 | 30 | $277,876 | $9,263 |
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