Data shows that students paid $22,879 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $713 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Thiel College stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $35,450. Grove City College followed with an average of $19,990 per year. The Laurel Technical Institute students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $11,470.
At the time, at least $10.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Mercer County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $5.6 million.
Currently there are five higher education institutions in Mercer County, including Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango, Laurel Technical Institute, and Grove City College.
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.
Of the five institutions in Mercer County, Sharon Regional School of Nursing did not provide detailed data on tuition fees.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thiel College | 228 | $6,521,938 | $28,605 | 200 | $1,842,413 | $9,212 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Shenango | 48 | $538,106 | $11,211 | 25 | $141,958 | $5,678 |
| Grove City College | 365 | $3,001,114 | $8,222 | 208 | $3,179,854 | $15,288 |
| Sharon Regional School of Nursing | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Laurel Technical Institute | 50 | $345,740 | $6,915 | 45 | $433,872 | $9,642 |
Alerts Sign-up