Greg Christy, President | Northwestern College
Greg Christy, President | Northwestern College
Data shows that students paid $23,563 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $449 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Dordt University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $34,600. Northwestern College followed with an average of $34,250 per year. Northwest Iowa Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,897.
At the time, a total of $17.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Sioux County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $3.9 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Sioux County, including Northwest Iowa Community College, Dordt University, and Northwestern 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern College | 288 | $6,715,879 | $23,319 | 190 | $1,437,370 | $7,565 |
| Dordt University | 435 | $9,545,431 | $21,944 | 259 | $2,092,743 | $8,080 |
| Northwest Iowa Community College | 219 | $984,785 | $4,497 | 79 | $373,559 | $4,729 |
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