Average cost of college went up for students in Cumberland County in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees rose 3% in Cumberland County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $30,780 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $901 more than the previous school year.

Among the four institutions in the county, Dickinson College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $61,351. Messiah University followed with an average of $39,490 per year. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $13,617.

At the time, a total of $41.9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Cumberland County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $13.9 million.

Currently there are four higher education institutions in Cumberland County, including Messiah University, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, and Central Penn 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.