Jimmy Sawtelle Chancellor | Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Jimmy Sawtelle Chancellor | Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Data shows that students paid $9,539 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $342 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Louisiana Christian University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $19,720. Blue Cliff College-Alexandria followed with an average of $18,381 per year. Central Louisiana Technical Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,099.
At the time, a total of $8.5 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Rapides Parish universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $4.7 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Rapides Parish, including Pineville Beauty School, Blue Cliff College-Alexandria, and Louisiana Christian 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 332 | $2,282,071 | $6,874 | 170 | $1,076,656 | $6,333 |
| Blue Cliff College-Alexandria | 393 | $1,902,420 | $4,841 | 393 | $1,542,017 | $3,924 |
| Unitech Training Academy-Alexandria | 143 | $630,661 | $4,410 | 145 | $932,350 | $6,430 |
| Pineville Beauty School | 8 | $54,766 | $6,846 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Louisiana Christian University | 177 | $2,654,086 | $14,995 | 118 | $775,844 | $6,575 |
| Central Louisiana Technical Community College | 165 | $1,010,542 | $6,124 | 58 | $376,798 | $6,497 |
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