Data shows that students paid $10,889 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $87 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Laurus College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $82,150. Design's School of Cosmetology followed with an average of $13,682 per year. Cuesta College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $1,340.
At the time, a total of $33.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the San Luis Obispo County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $9.5 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in San Luis Obispo County, including Laurus College, Central California School of Continuing Education, and California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurus College | 65 | $318,035 | $4,893 | 37 | $311,799 | $8,427 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 2,424 | $30,801,975 | $12,707 | 1,440 | $8,651,104 | $6,008 |
| Central California School of Continuing Education | 47 | $389,297 | $8,283 | 47 | $352,036 | $7,490 |
| Design's School of Cosmetology | 25 | $105,538 | $4,222 | 30 | $111,441 | $3,715 |
| Cuesta College | 407 | $1,769,134 | $4,347 | 16 | $74,651 | $4,666 |
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