President Dr. Albert Mosley | Morningside University
President Dr. Albert Mosley | Morningside University
Data shows that students paid $13,456 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $353 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Morningside University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $36,610. Briar Cliff University followed with an average of $34,498 per year. Western Iowa Tech Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,926.
At the time, a total of $16.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Woodbury County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $4.6 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Woodbury County, including Morningside University, Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City, and St Luke's 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Iowa Tech Community College | 452 | $2,139,576 | $4,734 | 345 | $1,625,879 | $4,713 |
| Iowa School of Beauty-Sioux City | 13 | $111,080 | $8,545 | 14 | $126,049 | $9,004 |
| St Luke's College | 6 | $87,718 | $14,620 | 6 | $37,500 | $6,250 |
| Morningside University | 346 | $9,356,784 | $27,043 | 248 | $2,021,582 | $8,152 |
| Briar Cliff University | 173 | $4,554,156 | $26,325 | 107 | $799,220 | $7,469 |
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