Data shows that students paid $17,723 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $437 more than the previous school year.
Among the 11 institutions in the county, Calvin University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $38,620. Aquinas College followed with an average of $37,280 per year. Grand Rapids Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,966.
At the time, a total of $44.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Kent County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $12.4 million.
Currently there are 11 higher education institutions in Kent County, including Cornerstone University, Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids, and Kuyper 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross College-Grand Rapids North | 179 | $992,445 | $5,544 | 165 | $1,309,920 | $7,939 |
| Calvin University | 616 | $16,748,276 | $27,189 | 226 | $1,798,048 | $7,956 |
| Kuyper College | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aquinas College | 307 | $8,915,746 | $29,042 | 167 | $1,366,273 | $8,181 |
| Grand Rapids Community College | 690 | $3,421,493 | $4,959 | 240 | $926,469 | $3,860 |
| Davenport University | 459 | $7,362,961 | $16,041 | 275 | $3,270,486 | $11,893 |
| Cornerstone University | 285 | $4,950,968 | $17,372 | 159 | $1,526,865 | $9,603 |
| Empire Beauty School-Michigan | 101 | $500,894 | $4,959 | 98 | $728,966 | $7,438 |
| Grace Christian University | 82 | $825,321 | $10,065 | 54 | $355,478 | $6,583 |
| Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood | 94 | $522,139 | $5,555 | 101 | $1,033,398 | $10,232 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Grand Rapids | 5 | $23,275 | $4,655 | 8 | $74,665 | $9,333 |
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