College tuition fees rose 1.2% in Chester County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $15,840 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $194 more than the previous school year.
Among the seven institutions in the county, Automotive Training Center-Exton stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $43,800. Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc followed with an average of $39,100 per year. West Chester University of Pennsylvania students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $12,008.
At the time, a total of $27.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Chester County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $29.9 million.
Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Chester County, including Automotive Training Center-Exton, Lincoln University, and Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immaculata University | 200 | $3,119,503 | $15,598 | 149 | $1,469,857 | $9,865 |
| Chester County Intermediate Unit | 21 | $112,645 | $5,364 | 21 | $158,000 | $7,524 |
| Lincoln University | 390 | $5,610,547 | $14,386 | 320 | $2,118,881 | $6,622 |
| University of Valley Forge | 128 | $1,960,605 | $15,317 | 101 | $789,181 | $7,814 |
| Automotive Training Center-Exton | 193 | $1,727,937 | $8,953 | 193 | $1,448,719 | $7,506 |
| West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 2,074 | $11,413,951 | $5,503 | 2,015 | $19,671,094 | $9,762 |
| Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc | 464 | $3,130,457 | $6,747 | 475 | $4,199,461 | $8,841 |
