Steven Hanks, MD, President & CEO | Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing
Steven Hanks, MD, President & CEO | Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing
Data shows that students paid $27,741 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $691 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $60,074. Russell Sage College followed with an average of $35,351 per year. Hudson Valley Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $6,115.
At the time, a total of $98.3 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Rensselaer County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $14 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Rensselaer County, including Hudson Valley Community College, Russell Sage College, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Valley Community College | 1,064 | $7,253,421 | $6,817 | 398 | $1,996,526 | $5,016 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | 1,921 | $84,512,395 | $43,994 | 1,160 | $10,253,655 | $8,839 |
| Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Russell Sage College | 238 | $6,519,885 | $27,394 | 225 | $1,795,389 | $7,980 |
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