Chancellor R. Kirby Godsey | Mercer University
Chancellor R. Kirby Godsey | Mercer University
Data shows that students paid $19,236 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $426 more than the previous school year.
Among the six institutions in the county, Mercer University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $39,708. Wesleyan College followed with an average of $27,650 per year. Middle Georgia State University students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $4,919.
At the time, a total of $38.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Bibb County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $8.6 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Bibb County, including Middle Georgia State University, Webb's Barber School of Arts, and Miller-Motte College-Macon.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wesleyan College | 122 | $3,015,137 | $24,714 | 87 | $570,498 | $6,557 |
| Helms College | 30 | $200,739 | $6,691 | 32 | $228,415 | $7,138 |
| Middle Georgia State University | 908 | $5,686,285 | $6,262 | 445 | $2,601,914 | $5,847 |
| Mercer University | 896 | $29,031,871 | $32,402 | 540 | $4,676,266 | $8,660 |
| Webb's Barber School of Arts | 9 | $61,902 | $6,878 | 10 | $89,267 | $8,927 |
| Miller-Motte College-Macon | 67 | $363,906 | $5,431 | 64 | $384,884 | $6,014 |
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