Dr. Kimberly van Noort Chancellor | University of North Carolina at Asheville
Dr. Kimberly van Noort Chancellor | University of North Carolina at Asheville
Data shows that students paid $9,335 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $219 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Warren Wilson College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $38,450. Montreat College followed with an average of $30,525 per year. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $2,955.
At the time, a total of $14.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Buncombe County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $3.6 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Buncombe County, including Center for Massage, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, and Montreat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College | 380 | $2,114,771 | $5,565 | 7 | $35,628 | $5,090 |
| Montreat College | 207 | $4,042,218 | $19,528 | 162 | $1,199,495 | $7,404 |
| Carolina College of Hair Design Inc | 25 | $121,390 | $4,856 | 22 | $74,480 | $3,385 |
| Warren Wilson College | 191 | $4,903,060 | $25,670 | 111 | $661,651 | $5,961 |
| Center for Massage | 27 | $83,295 | $3,085 | 22 | $115,997 | $5,273 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | 458 | $3,140,276 | $6,856 | 216 | $1,536,816 | $7,115 |
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