Kim Keeble, Guest Services Associate | LinkedIn
Kim Keeble, Guest Services Associate | LinkedIn
Data shows that students paid $14,787 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $633 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Coe College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $50,664. Cornell College followed with an average of $49,158 per year. Kirkwood Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,796.
At the time, at least $41.9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Linn County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $8.4 million.
Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Linn County, including Coe College, Capri College-Cedar Rapids, and Kirkwood Community 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 seven institutions in Linn County, Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkwood Community College | 1,012 | $6,497,884 | $6,421 | 521 | $2,309,043 | $4,432 |
| Capri College-Cedar Rapids | 29 | $143,134 | $4,936 | 33 | $182,620 | $5,534 |
| Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Cornell College | 329 | $12,661,779 | $38,486 | 225 | $2,208,785 | $9,817 |
| La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology | 69 | $376,108 | $5,451 | 86 | $516,378 | $6,004 |
| Mount Mercy University | 221 | $6,326,886 | $28,628 | 128 | $1,051,920 | $8,218 |
| Coe College | 363 | $15,889,386 | $43,772 | 266 | $2,129,768 | $8,007 |
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