Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education | Official website
Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Secretary of Education | Official website
Data shows that students paid $12,479 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $707 charged for the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, National American University-Rapid City stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $16,065. Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City followed with an average of $15,750 per year. Western Dakota Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $8,286.
At the time, a total of $3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Pennington County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $3 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Pennington County, including The Salon Professional Academy, Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City, and National American University-Rapid City.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 434 | $2,059,636 | $4,746 | 283 | $2,242,575 | $7,924 |
| The Salon Professional Academy | 12 | $68,581 | $5,715 | 21 | $120,079 | $5,718 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City | 24 | $109,377 | $4,557 | 20 | $133,244 | $6,662 |
| National American University-Rapid City | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Western Dakota Technical College | 99 | $715,011 | $7,222 | 78 | $526,852 | $6,755 |
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