Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of Education | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Cindy_Marten%2C_Deputy_Secretary_of_Education_2.jpg
Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of Education | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Cindy_Marten%2C_Deputy_Secretary_of_Education_2.jpg
Data shows that students paid $13,220 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $348 more than the previous school year.
Among the 13 institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Colorado College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $65,028. Intellitec College-Colorado Springs followed with an average of $39,403 per year. Pikes Peak State College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,300.
At the time, at least $34.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the El Paso County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $16 million.
Currently there are 14 higher education institutions in El Paso County, including University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Tigi Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs, and International Salon and Spa 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.
Of the 14 institutions in El Paso County, United States Air Force Academy did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Salon and Spa Academy | 27 | $155,461 | $5,758 | 27 | $160,267 | $5,936 |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | 580 | $4,034,720 | $6,956 | 538 | $3,633,072 | $6,753 |
| Tigi Hairdressing Academy-Colorado Springs | 72 | $250,375 | $3,477 | 89 | $373,058 | $4,192 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Colorado Springs | 23 | $98,459 | $4,281 | 23 | $148,828 | $6,471 |
| Intellitec College-Colorado Springs | 339 | $1,575,913 | $4,649 | 333 | $2,745,302 | $8,244 |
| United States Air Force Academy | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Apex College of Veterinary Technology | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Colorado College | 297 | $14,240,172 | $47,947 | 145 | $1,167,717 | $8,053 |
| Nazarene Bible College | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 1,147 | $7,682,092 | $6,698 | 665 | $5,747,111 | $8,642 |
| Pikes Peak State College | 839 | $5,445,744 | $6,491 | 146 | $581,433 | $3,982 |
| Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs | 133 | $634,305 | $4,769 | 147 | $1,257,729 | $8,556 |
| Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Colorado Springs | 33 | $151,872 | $4,602 | 33 | $168,666 | $5,111 |
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