College tuition fees rose 3.6% in Erie County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $31,168 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $1,079 more than the previous school year.
Among the five institutions providing full disclosure in the county, Mercyhurst University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $43,460. Gannon University followed with an average of $36,706 per year. Erie Institute of Technology Inc students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $14,194.
At the time, at least $39 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Erie County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached more than $15.1 million.
Currently there are six higher education institutions in Erie County, including Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Gannon University.
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 six institutions in Erie County, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gannon University | 527 | $14,483,497 | $27,483 | 433 | $4,038,862 | $9,328 |
| Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | 218 | $1,429,036 | $6,555 | 229 | $1,653,178 | $7,219 |
| Erie Institute of Technology Inc | 28 | $200,867 | $7,174 | 22 | $124,137 | $5,643 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 543 | $5,935,088 | $10,930 | 507 | $5,558,580 | $10,964 |
| Mercyhurst University | 540 | $16,975,896 | $31,437 | 377 | $3,734,094 | $9,905 |
