Average cost of college education in Winona County rises for students in 2022-23 school year

College tuition fees rose 4.7% in Winona County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Data shows that students paid $15,175 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $684 more than the previous school year.

Among the three institutions in the county, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $41,150. Winona State University followed with an average of $12,622 per year. Minnesota State College Southeast students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,490.

At the time, a total of $12.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Winona County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $7.9 million.

Currently there are three higher education institutions in Winona County, including Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Winona State University, and Minnesota State College Southeast.

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.