Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/cardona.html#:~:text=Miguel%20A.,in%20the%20mainland%20United%20States.
Data shows that students paid $5,915 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $1 charged for the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Fortis Institute-Pensacola stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $14,754. Pensacola School of Massage Therapy & Health Careers followed with an average of $12,630 per year. Pensacola State College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $2,724.
At the time, a total of $15.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Escambia County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $2.5 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Escambia County, including Fortis Institute-Pensacola, Adrian H. Wallace Barber Academy, and George Stone Technical 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of West Florida | 860 | $9,475,453 | $11,018 | 273 | $1,719,362 | $6,298 |
| Pensacola State College | 624 | $4,126,869 | $6,614 | 62 | $234,528 | $3,783 |
| George Stone Technical College | 295 | $1,019,337 | $3,455 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Pensacola School of Massage Therapy & Health Careers | 36 | $184,862 | $5,135 | 32 | $164,235 | $5,132 |
| Adrian H. Wallace Barber Academy | 22 | $136,401 | $6,200 | 19 | $189,750 | $9,987 |
| Fortis Institute-Pensacola | 40 | $237,323 | $5,933 | 31 | $212,940 | $6,869 |
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