The Arkansas Welding Academy experienced a 28% tuition hike for the 2022-23 school year, based on the most recent figures released, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Students enrolled at the private, for-profit institution paid $13,713 this year, which is $3,000 higher than the $10,713 charged during the 2021-22 academic year.
Approximately 96% of the academy’s undergraduate students are residents of Arkansas, while around 4% come from other states.
Data indicates that 90% of full-time undergraduates who began their studies at the Arkansas Welding Academy in 2022-23 received some form of financial aid. A total of 70 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $356,949, and 76 students obtained student loans exceeding $866,515.
Across the entire undergraduate population, 88 students benefited from grants or scholarships totaling $520,435. Meanwhile, 98 students secured federal student loans totaling $1.1 million.
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.
The following data includes only full-time students who began an undergraduate program at the the Arkansas Welding Academy in the 2022-23 school year.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 70 | 83% | $326,060 | $4,658 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 13 | 15% | $30,889 | $2,376 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 0 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 70 | 83% | $356,949 | $5,099 |
| Federal student loans | 76 | 90% | $866,515 | $11,402 |
| Other student loans | 0 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| Student loan aid | 76 | 90% | $866,515 | $11,402 |
| Total student aid | 76 | 90% | $1.2 million | $16,098 |
Information in this story was obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. The source data can be found here.
