Steven Bloomberg Southeast Arkansas College President | LinkedIn
Steven Bloomberg Southeast Arkansas College President | LinkedIn
Data shows that students paid $9,565 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $370 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Northern Technical College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $17,995. The New Beginnings Beauty Academy followed with an average of $17,000 per year. Southeast Arkansas College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,380.
At the time, at least $6.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Jefferson County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $2.1 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Jefferson County, including New Beginnings Beauty Academy, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and Northern 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.
Of the five institutions in Jefferson County, Jefferson Regional School of Nursing did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Arkansas College | 42 | $181,081 | $4,311 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | 503 | $6,173,794 | $12,274 | 326 | $1,776,544 | $5,450 |
| New Beginnings Beauty Academy | 44 | $292,416 | $6,646 | 44 | $207,830 | $4,723 |
| Northern Technical College | 16 | $102,499 | $6,406 | 14 | $150,374 | $10,741 |
| Jefferson Regional School of Nursing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
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