Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of Education | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Cindy_Marten%2C_Deputy_Secretary_of_Education_2.jpg
Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary of Education | https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Cindy_Marten%2C_Deputy_Secretary_of_Education_2.jpg
Data shows that students paid $7,259 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, less than the $9 charged for the previous school year.
Among the 13 institutions in the county, Premiere International College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $21,125. Cozmo Beauty School followed with an average of $19,700 per year. Cape Coral Technical College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $1,091.
At the time, at least $26 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Lee County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $11.1 million.
Currently there are 13 higher education institutions in Lee County, including Florida SouthWestern State College, Hodges University, and Cozmo Beauty 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hodges University | 15 | $84,330 | $5,622 | 6 | $23,837 | $3,973 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 1,737 | $13,649,635 | $7,858 | 807 | $8,524,387 | $10,563 |
| The Salon Professional Academy-Ft Myers | 7 | $27,275 | $3,896 | 7 | $57,500 | $8,214 |
| Southern Technical College | 162 | $768,824 | $4,746 | 178 | $788,961 | $4,432 |
| Lee Professional Institute | 69 | $317,193 | $4,597 | 68 | $370,396 | $5,447 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-Fort Myers | 15 | $81,075 | $5,405 | 17 | $127,557 | $7,503 |
| Cozmo Beauty School | 6 | $41,620 | $6,937 | 10 | $73,445 | $7,345 |
| Premiere International College | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Florida Academy | 24 | $103,854 | $4,327 | 28 | $135,169 | $4,827 |
| Florida SouthWestern State College | 1,476 | $8,511,898 | $5,767 | 232 | $896,096 | $3,862 |
| Fort Myers Technical College | 336 | $1,533,642 | $4,564 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Aveda Institute-Fort Myers | 10 | $47,043 | $4,704 | 11 | $69,406 | $6,310 |
| Cape Coral Technical College | 168 | $858,418 | $5,110 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
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