Trish Anderson President, Owner | Academy of Salon and Spa
Trish Anderson President, Owner | Academy of Salon and Spa
Data shows that students paid $7,324 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $436 more than the previous school year.
Among the three institutions in the county, Academy of Salon and Spa stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $17,385. Designer Barber & Stylist School followed with an average of $16,325 per year. The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,049.
At the time, a total of $6.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Sebastian County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $1.6 million.
Currently there are three higher education institutions in Sebastian County, including Designer Barber & Stylist School, Academy of Salon and Spa, and University of Arkansas-Fort Smith.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of Salon and Spa | 48 | $218,930 | $4,561 | 45 | $267,882 | $5,953 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 760 | $5,948,295 | $7,827 | 232 | $1,165,263 | $5,023 |
| Designer Barber & Stylist School | 18 | $109,159 | $6,064 | 20 | $158,532 | $7,927 |
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