Greg Cant, PhD, President | Wilkes University
Greg Cant, PhD, President | Wilkes University
Data shows that students paid $26,202 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $526 more than the previous school year.
Among the eight institutions in the county, King's College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $41,600. Wilkes University followed with an average of $41,112 per year. Luzerne County Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $10,530.
At the time, a total of $37.8 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Luzerne County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $12 million.
Currently there are eight higher education institutions in Luzerne County, including Fortis Institute-Forty Fort, Wilkes University, and Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's College | 363 | $11,501,893 | $31,686 | 254 | $2,656,768 | $10,460 |
| Hazleton Area Career Center | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | 139 | $1,502,286 | $10,808 | 105 | $997,141 | $9,497 |
| Fortis Institute-Forty Fort | 29 | $190,594 | $6,572 | 27 | $204,582 | $7,577 |
| Misericordia University | 367 | $9,403,856 | $25,624 | 289 | $3,066,958 | $10,612 |
| Luzerne County Community College | 334 | $1,888,207 | $5,653 | 207 | $847,115 | $4,092 |
| Wilkes University | 464 | $13,227,183 | $28,507 | 384 | $4,120,660 | $10,731 |
| Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center Practical Nursing | 11 | $74,194 | $6,745 | 12 | $89,421 | $7,452 |
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