USG schools to hike tuition
No school will be allowed to increase more than 2 percent.
The Board of Regents set tuition for the University System of Georgia Tuesday. All 28 of the colleges and universities in the USG will keep tuition increases to 2 percent.
Tuition at Georgia Highlands College will rise for the 2017-2018 academic year, as the school plans for the 2 percent increase.
GHC President Don Green said: “Georgia Highlands College remains the most affordable, accessible, high quality two-year degree option in Northwest Georgia. GHC is steadfast in keeping college degrees affordable. Although this increase slightly raises our per credit hour rate, we will persist in saving students money in as many ways as possible, such as continuing our use of Open Educational Resources, which has saved students nearly $4 million over the past five semesters by eliminating the cost of textbooks in specific courses.”
Currently, the cost of tuition at Georgia Highlands is $1,360 per semester and $90.87 per credit hour. The increase will mean the cost per semester will be $1,390, or $92.67 per credit hour. There will be no fee increases for GHC for fiscal year 2018. GHC had no tuition increases for 2017.
“With the generous support of the governor and legislature, we continue to focus on college affordability, while providing quality education,” said Chancellor Steve Wrigley. “Keeping tuition increases to a minimum allows the university system to provide a quality education balanced with the critical need to keep public higher education affordable.”
By keeping the tuition increase to 2 percent for the 2017-2018 academic year following the 0 percent increase for the current year, the university system has been able to limit tuition increases to an average of 2.2 percent annually over the last five years.
Out of the 16 states that make up the Southern Regional Education Board, the USG has now become the sixth lowest state in tuition and fees for four-year institutions.
According to a release sent by the USG, the board is working to keep fees to a minimum.
Additionally, the university system has taken steps to eliminate certain fees, such as the Board of Regents’ plan to phase out mandatory commuter meal plans.
By the end of fiscal year 2019, mandatory commuter meal plans will no longer be in use at Georgia Gwinnett College. The College of Coastal Georgia eliminated their plan last fall and Kennesaw State University will eliminate their plan effective fall 2017.
The university system also is focusing on increasing accessibility through its online offerings; eCore, the USG’s online core curriculum, will decrease tuition to $159 per credit hour from $169.
“The University System of Georgia is committed to providing students an affordable, accessible and high quality college education,” said Shelley Nickel, executive vice chancellor for strategy and fiscal affairs. “Across the university system, we are working together to help make college affordable with the ultimate goal of student success.”