Susan R. Wente, President | Wake Forest University
Susan R. Wente, President | Wake Forest University
Data shows that students paid $21,557 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $660 more than the previous school year.
Among the eight institutions in the county, Wake Forest University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $62,128. Salem College followed with an average of $31,016 per year. Forsyth Technical Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $2,252.
At the time, a total of $40.1 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Forsyth County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $7.8 million.
Currently there are eight higher education institutions in Forsyth County, including Empire Beauty School-Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem State University, and Winston Salem Barber School.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake Forest University | 468 | $25,782,190 | $55,090 | 194 | $1,914,306 | $9,868 |
| Winston Salem Barber School | 97 | $532,811 | $5,493 | 42 | $278,586 | $6,633 |
| Carolina Christian College | 6 | $40,824 | $6,804 | 6 | $30,000 | $5,000 |
| Empire Beauty School-Winston-Salem | 26 | $144,050 | $5,540 | 22 | $189,000 | $8,591 |
| Winston-Salem State University | 751 | $6,949,548 | $9,254 | 616 | $3,862,157 | $6,270 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | 143 | $1,808,782 | $12,649 | 102 | $866,402 | $8,494 |
| Salem College | 89 | $2,568,567 | $28,860 | 61 | $349,482 | $5,729 |
| Forsyth Technical Community College | 352 | $2,281,288 | $6,481 | 88 | $316,567 | $3,597 |
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