Dr. Don Dowless, President | Shorter University
Dr. Don Dowless, President | Shorter University
Data shows that students paid $10,829 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $133 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Berry College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $39,376. Shorter University followed with an average of $22,810 per year. Georgia Northwestern Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,136.
At the time, a total of $29.7 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Floyd County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $4.1 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Floyd County, including Berry College, Georgia Highlands College, and Shorter University.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Northwestern Technical College | 287 | $2,482,459 | $8,650 | 17 | $78,896 | $4,641 |
| Shorter University | 268 | $4,869,069 | $18,168 | 175 | $1,127,219 | $6,441 |
| Georgia Highlands College | 549 | $3,038,929 | $5,535 | 98 | $479,644 | $4,894 |
| Berry College | 634 | $19,269,112 | $30,393 | 276 | $2,460,823 | $8,916 |
Alerts Sign-up