Average cost of college education in Union County rises for students in 2022-23 school year

President John Bravman | Bucknell University

By North Central PA Times

Sep 28, 2024

College tuition fees rose 3.2% in Union County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $59,546 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,860 more than the previous school year.

Among the three institutions in the county, Bucknell University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $61,746. Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg followed with an average of $21,040 per year. Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit LPN Career students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $20,993.

At the time, a total of $24.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Union County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $5.3 million.

Currently there are three higher education institutions in Union County, including Bucknell University, Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit LPN Career, and Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg.

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.

Total Student Aid in Union County Universities in 2022-23 School Year

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
Bucknell University	584	$24,067,509	$41,211	397	$4,817,277	$12,134
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit LPN Career	14	$77,014	$5,501	14	$118,368	$8,455
Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg	48	$291,670	$6,076	51	$381,673	$7,484