College tuition fees rose 3% in Passaic County in the 2022-23 school year, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Data shows that students paid $14,299 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $421 more than the previous school year.
Among the seven institutions in the county, Berkeley College-Woodland Park stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $28,600. Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences followed with an average of $20,465 per year. Passaic County Community College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $7,350.
At the time, a total of $53.4 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Passaic County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $22 million.
Currently there are seven higher education institutions in Passaic County, including Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences, Fortis Institute-Wayne, and Montclair State 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montclair State University | 3,077 | $36,132,723 | $11,743 | 1,700 | $13,358,748 | $7,858 |
| Fortis Institute-Wayne | 192 | $1,167,661 | $6,082 | 196 | $1,561,079 | $7,965 |
| Passaic County Community College | 423 | $2,503,106 | $5,918 | 35 | $177,399 | $5,069 |
| American Institute-Clifton | 252 | $1,467,547 | $5,824 | 258 | $2,303,766 | $8,929 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 661 | $9,243,198 | $13,984 | 386 | $2,733,635 | $7,082 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | 117 | $2,140,259 | $18,293 | 68 | $370,462 | $5,448 |
| Hohokus School of Trade and Technical Sciences | 134 | $788,982 | $5,888 | 134 | $1,514,200 | $11,300 |
