Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, President | Augustana University
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, President | Augustana University
Data shows that students paid $20,173 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $546 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Augustana University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $37,342. The University of Sioux Falls followed with an average of $20,290 per year. Southeast Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,650.
At the time, at least $20.6 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Minnehaha County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $6.6 million.
Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Minnehaha County, including Stewart School, Kairos University, and Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology.
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.
Of the seven institutions in Minnehaha County, three did not provide detailed data on tuition fees, including Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology, Kairos University, and Sanford Medical Center.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Technical College | 279 | $1,594,244 | $5,714 | 308 | $2,029,867 | $6,590 |
| Kairos University | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Sanford Medical Center | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Augustana University | 553 | $15,442,394 | $27,925 | 306 | $2,495,696 | $8,156 |
| University of Sioux Falls | 302 | $3,531,058 | $11,692 | 228 | $1,777,185 | $7,795 |
| Stewart School | 20 | $71,040 | $3,552 | 42 | $281,038 | $6,691 |
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