Brian Pellinen, Interim President | Montserrat College of Art
Brian Pellinen, Interim President | Montserrat College of Art
Data shows that students paid $21,001 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $719 more than the previous school year.
Among the nine institutions in the county, Merrimack College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $49,196. Montserrat College of Art followed with an average of $37,850 per year. North Shore Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $5,408.
At the time, a total of $68.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Essex County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $31.8 million.
Currently there are nine higher education institutions in Essex County, including Merrimack College, New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts, and Salem State University.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Community College | 269 | $1,718,154 | $6,387 | 77 | $423,924 | $5,506 |
| Endicott College | 847 | $14,871,070 | $17,557 | 623 | $10,292,133 | $16,520 |
| Northpoint Bible College | 22 | $167,421 | $7,610 | 17 | $88,562 | $5,210 |
| Gordon College | 312 | $4,911,033 | $15,740 | 199 | $1,647,945 | $8,281 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts | 423 | $2,010,766 | $4,754 | 728 | $3,688,703 | $5,067 |
| Salem State University | 844 | $6,955,609 | $8,241 | 596 | $4,629,457 | $7,768 |
| Montserrat College of Art | 52 | $1,084,565 | $20,857 | 39 | $456,098 | $11,695 |
| Merrimack College | 1,179 | $34,468,186 | $29,235 | 785 | $10,412,137 | $13,264 |
| Northern Essex Community College | 263 | $1,873,454 | $7,123 | 41 | $168,096 | $4,100 |
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