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 $6,211 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $203 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Hastings Beauty School stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $17,050. Dakota County Technical College followed with an average of $6,419 per year. Inver Hills Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,007.
At the time, a total of $1.9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Dakota County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $967,104.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Dakota County, including Dakota County Technical College, Hastings Beauty School, and Inver Hills Community 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inver Hills Community College | 166 | $857,042 | $5,163 | 49 | $224,847 | $4,589 |
| Hastings Beauty School | 17 | $53,754 | $3,162 | 19 | $89,034 | $4,686 |
| Dakota County Technical College | 197 | $971,010 | $4,929 | 106 | $653,223 | $6,162 |
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