DeAnnia Clements President | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
DeAnnia Clements President | Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Data shows that students paid $7,228 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $377 charged for the previous school year.
Among the two institutions in the county, Valdosta State University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $9,357. Wiregrass Georgia Technical College followed with an average of $3,200 per year.
At the time, a total of $11.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Lowndes County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $3.3 million.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valdosta State University | 1,003 | $9,943,930 | $9,914 | 530 | $3,270,218 | $6,170 |
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | 142 | $1,194,674 | $8,413 | 0 | $0 | $0 |