Data shows that students paid $13,523 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $436 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, the Protege Academy stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $19,600. M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant followed with an average of $15,400 per year. Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $2,210.
At the time, a total of $20.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Isabella County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $10.2 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Isabella County, including Central Michigan University, M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant, and Protege Academy.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw Chippewa Tribal College | 8 | $39,332 | $4,917 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| M J Murphy Beauty College of Mount Pleasant | 20 | $124,105 | $6,205 | 14 | $141,000 | $10,071 |
| Protege Academy | 10 | $56,551 | $5,655 | 14 | $96,489 | $6,892 |
| Central Michigan University | 1,890 | $20,106,426 | $10,638 | 1,504 | $9,921,635 | $6,597 |
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