Tuition for Arkansas residents attending National Park College rose by 13% during the 2022-23 school year, based on recent disclosures, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Arkansas residents paid $5,650 to attend the two-year public college this year, which is $650 higher than the $5,000 charged in the 2021-22 academic year.
Non-resident students faced tuition costs that were 21.8% higher than those for residents in 2022-23, amounting to $6,880. This reflects a 10.4% increase from the $6,230 charged in the previous year.
Approximately 89% of the undergraduate student body at National Park College are Arkansas residents, while about 9% come from other states and 1% are international students.
Data indicates that 91% of full-time undergraduates who enrolled at National Park College in 2022-23 received some form of student financial aid. A total of 422 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $2.5 million, and 109 students borrowed over $489,583 in student loans.
Across all undergraduate students, 1,368 received grants or scholarships totaling $7.6 million. Additionally, 534 students obtained $2.6 million in federal student loans.
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.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 309 | 65% | $1.7 million | $5,632 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 113 | 24% | $131,338 | $1,162 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 212 | 45% | $613,295 | $2,893 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 422 | 89% | $2.5 million | $5,888 |
| Federal student loans | 109 | 23% | $483,723 | $4,438 |
| Other student loans | 0 | 0% | $0 | $0 |
| Student loan aid | 109 | 23% | $489,583 | $4,492 |
| Total student aid | 432 | 91% | $3 million | $6,885 |
