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 $4,096 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $9 charged for the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $15,100. Southeastern Baptist College followed with an average of $6,275 per year. Jones County Junior College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,910.
At the time, a total of $3.8 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Jones County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $279,207.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Jones County, including Southeastern Baptist College, Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture, and Jones County Junior College.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County Junior College | 590 | $3,555,988 | $6,027 | 56 | $238,874 | $4,266 |
| Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture | 7 | $47,515 | $6,788 | 6 | $40,333 | $6,722 |
| Southeastern Baptist College | 24 | $164,013 | $6,834 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
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