Average cost of college education in Union County remains unchanged for students in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees were unchanged in Union County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $8,592 on average to attend the University of South Carolina-Union courses at the time, unchanged from the previous school year.

For comparison, South Carolina universities charge students an annual average of $16,572 per year.

At the time, a total of $769,786 in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who enrolled in the university. Additionally, federal student loans reached $212,396.

Currently, there are 1,098 students enrolled in the University of South Carolina-Union.

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.