S. Georgia Nugent, Ph.D., President | Illinois Wesleyan University
S. Georgia Nugent, Ph.D., President | Illinois Wesleyan University
Data shows that students paid $16,853 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $25 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Illinois Wesleyan University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $53,814. Paul Mitchell the School-Normal followed with an average of $18,613 per year. Heartland Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $10,099.
At the time, a total of $60.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the McLean County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $17.5 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in McLean County, including Illinois State University, Heartland Community College, and Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Mitchell the School-Normal | 16 | $59,770 | $3,736 | 19 | $147,165 | $7,746 |
| Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology | 40 | $205,000 | $5,125 | 40 | $212,000 | $5,300 |
| Illinois State University | 3,818 | $44,250,931 | $11,590 | 1,884 | $14,489,544 | $7,691 |
| Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal | 10 | $67,241 | $6,724 | 14 | $110,628 | $7,902 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 382 | $14,133,562 | $36,999 | 261 | $2,224,160 | $8,522 |
| Heartland Community College | 316 | $1,615,351 | $5,112 | 64 | $315,481 | $4,929 |
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