College tuition fees rose 3.2% in Ramsey County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $31,679 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $993 more than the previous school year.
Among the nine institutions in the county, Macalester College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $62,500. The University of St Thomas followed with an average of $50,366 per year. Saint Paul College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,318.
At the time, a total of $124.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Ramsey County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $21.3 million.
Currently there are nine higher education institutions in Ramsey County, including Macalester College, Hamline University, and University of St Thomas.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | 295 | $4,988,623 | $16,911 | 203 | $1,606,975 | $7,916 |
| Metropolitan State University | 80 | $641,690 | $8,021 | 21 | $105,338 | $5,016 |
| Saint Paul College | 424 | $2,648,961 | $6,248 | 99 | $523,079 | $5,284 |
| Bethel University | 436 | $11,302,923 | $25,924 | 271 | $2,625,920 | $9,690 |
| University of St Thomas | 1,488 | $48,780,518 | $32,783 | 708 | $7,770,175 | $10,975 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | 394 | $8,415,861 | $21,360 | 257 | $2,474,029 | $9,627 |
| Macalester College | 485 | $19,559,787 | $40,329 | 232 | $1,872,783 | $8,072 |
| St Catherine University | 322 | $11,658,381 | $36,206 | 206 | $1,568,284 | $7,613 |
| Hamline University | 477 | $16,209,104 | $33,981 | 299 | $2,791,187 | $9,335 |
