Heath A. Thomas President | Oklahoma Baptist University
Heath A. Thomas President | Oklahoma Baptist University
Data shows that students paid $21,270 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $471 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Oklahoma Baptist University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $32,880. Shawnee Beauty College followed with an average of $13,480 per year. Gordon Cooper Technology Center students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,682.
At the time, at least $8.8 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Pottawatomie County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $1.6 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Pottawatomie County, including Gordon Cooper Technology Center, Family of Faith Christian University, and Shawnee Beauty 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Baptist University | 366 | $8,002,380 | $21,864 | 195 | $1,432,473 | $7,346 |
| Gordon Cooper Technology Center | 72 | $471,952 | $6,555 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Family of Faith Christian University | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Shawnee Beauty College | 69 | $290,500 | $4,210 | 33 | $165,812 | $5,025 |
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