Edward Wingenbach, Ph.D., President | Hampshire College
Edward Wingenbach, Ph.D., President | Hampshire College
Data shows that students paid $31,064 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,097 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions in the county, Amherst College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $64,100. Smith College followed with an average of $58,768 per year. The University of Massachusetts-Amherst students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $22,674.
At the time, a total of $118.9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Hampshire County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $28.7 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Hampshire County, including Mount Holyoke College, Amherst College, and University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 4,161 | $51,359,101 | $12,343 | 2,730 | $25,196,507 | $9,229 |
| Smith College | 420 | $22,810,540 | $54,311 | 87 | $998,996 | $11,483 |
| Amherst College | 269 | $17,652,682 | $65,623 | 35 | $343,795 | $9,823 |
| Mount Holyoke College | 407 | $17,021,817 | $41,823 | 260 | $1,092,535 | $4,202 |
| Hampshire College | 228 | $10,019,302 | $43,944 | 140 | $1,020,480 | $7,289 |
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