Average cost of college went up for students in Hamilton County in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees rose 0.7% in Hamilton County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $13,528 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $89 more than the previous school year.

Among the six institutions in the county, Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $32,240. Southern Adventist University followed with an average of $23,870 per year. Chattanooga State Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,327.

At the time, a total of $43.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Hamilton County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $17.1 million.

Currently there are six higher education institutions in Hamilton County, including Southern Adventist University, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers.

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.