Monika Thomas, Cosmetology Instructor | LinkedIn
Monika Thomas, Cosmetology Instructor | LinkedIn
Data shows that students paid $13,856 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $153 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $31,950. Central Texas Beauty College-Temple followed with an average of $8,550 per year. Temple College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,675.
At the time, a total of $13.5 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Bell County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $4.2 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Bell County, including Temple College, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Texas A&M University-Central Texas.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yahweh Beauty Academy | 24 | $85,645 | $3,569 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 741 | $11,318,202 | $15,274 | 490 | $3,870,377 | $7,899 |
| Texas A&M University-Central Texas | 12 | $162,137 | $13,511 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Central Texas Beauty College-Temple | 130 | $398,323 | $3,064 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Temple College | 264 | $1,495,428 | $5,665 | 76 | $352,172 | $4,634 |
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