Lucinda S. Leyva, President | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen
Lucinda S. Leyva, President | UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen
Data shows that students paid $5,917 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $86 more than the previous school year.
Among the eight institutions in the county, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $19,735. Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen followed with an average of $17,900 per year. Texas Southmost College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,748.
At the time, a total of $9 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Cameron County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $6.9 million.
Currently there are eight higher education institutions in Cameron County, including UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen, Salon & Spa Institute, and South Texas Training Center.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Careers Institute-Harlingen | 403 | $1,921,809 | $4,769 | 339 | $2,032,496 | $5,996 |
| Mei Barber School | 52 | $271,921 | $5,229 | 10 | $64,235 | $6,424 |
| Salon & Spa Institute | 0 | $0 | $0 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Southern Careers Institute-Brownsville | 531 | $2,496,646 | $4,702 | 477 | $3,135,999 | $6,574 |
| South Texas Training Center | 78 | $720,000 | $9,231 | 90 | $443,443 | $4,927 |
| Texas Southmost College | 500 | $2,819,486 | $5,639 | 51 | $193,708 | $3,798 |
| South Texas Vocational Technical Institute-Brownsville | 116 | $711,164 | $6,131 | 114 | $967,853 | $8,490 |
| UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences-Harlingen | 46 | $68,876 | $1,497 | 26 | $96,491 | $3,711 |
Alerts Sign-up