Yolanda Neal, President | LinkedIn
Yolanda Neal, President | LinkedIn
Data shows that students paid $29,169 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $992 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Duke University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $62,688. Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College followed with an average of $15,735 per year. Durham Technical Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $2,005.
At the time, at least $55.8 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Durham County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $8.1 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Durham County, including Duke University, Watts College of Nursing, and Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber 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.
Of the six institutions in Durham County, Watts College of Nursing did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watts College of Nursing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| North Carolina Central University | 963 | $11,988,264 | $12,449 | 785 | $4,631,156 | $5,900 |
| Elevate Salon Institute | 12 | $46,226 | $3,852 | 11 | $61,692 | $5,608 |
| Bull City Durham Beauty and Barber College | 6 | $29,288 | $4,881 | 6 | $55,930 | $9,322 |
| Durham Technical Community College | 113 | $814,655 | $7,209 | 11 | $62,130 | $5,648 |
| Duke University | 724 | $42,952,817 | $59,327 | 282 | $3,257,291 | $11,551 |
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