(The Center Square) — The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents has voted to increase tuition at the state’s 26 public colleges and universities and create a new tuition tier for international students.
The 2.5% in-state undergraduate tuition hike applies to USG schools for the 2024-25 academic year.Out-of-state tuition will increase by 5% systemwide. A new tuition tier for out-of-country students was set at 2% more than the out-of-state student rate.
In a release, the Board said it opted to keep tuition flat at all but one USG institution for six of the past eight years. However, officials said escalating costs have increased budget pressure, necessitating the move.
“Maintaining affordability is one of the highest priorities of the university system and the Board of Regents,” USG Chancellor and former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue said in a release.
“We are a good deal for Georgians, and we have worked to protect that value particularly for our Georgia undergraduates as we balance affordability with institutional sustainability and academic quality,” Perdue added. “Our institutions face increasing costs to operate, and we must sustain their momentum as some of the best in the nation at helping students succeed on campus and in the workforce.”
On Tuesday, USG officials also said they will continue a waiver of test score requirements. With state colleges already test-optional, test scores are not required for admission at 23 USG colleges and universities for the 2025-26 academic year.
The waiver does not apply to the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), the University of Georgia and Georgia College & State University.
The fiscal 2025 budget lawmakers approved last month includes more than $9.7 billion for the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, including nearly $3.4 billion in state taxpayer dollars and more than $1.8 billion in federal funds and grants.
By T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor
