Get Schooled

By zoe

December 14, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

I think the out of state students need to be charged the correct tuition retroactively AND the HOPE monies need to be returned. Students have to apply for in-state waivers if the parents live out of state. Until a student is 25, the FAFSA is supposed to contain parental information unless a student can prove that s/he is independent. I had to do this to attend Georgia State as an in-state student. This amounts to fraud on the part of the students if they lied to get in-state tuition and HOPE and it should be treated as such.

By JustMe

December 14, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

That is a boat-load of money GA taxpayers are forking over for out-of-state students.

IMHO, the State of GA should impart a rather large fine/penalty on the colleges doing this.

By threedeep

December 14, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this

I don’t see the big deal, we send students to other states for college. Colleges recruit students from all over the country and if a student is smart enough to get accepted they should not be charged any more than a student from that state. All students should pay the same rate for a particular college then schools can have the best and the brightest.

By Old School

December 14, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

There is also a WONDERFUL program through the Academic Common Market for students who seek majors not available in their home states. My youngest attended MTSU as a Recording Industry major and, because she qualified for the ACM, out of state fees were waived. Georgia is part of this consortium of southeastern states. www.sreb.org is the home website (best I recall)

By high school teacher

December 14, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Threedeep, I would agree with your argument in the case of private colleges. Public colleges, on the other hand, are a different issue. Public schools receive local taxpayer funding. Anyone: do public colleges receive federal funding? I don’t know the answer to this one.

By Bob

December 14, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

My daughter attends school out of state. Her school told her when she applied that she would have to pay out of state tuition her 1st year, but if she set herself up with Colorado residency a month before entering school - voting, Colorado drivers license, etc. - she could avoid the out of state fees after the 1st year.

Much to my dismay, when she completes her PharmD, she plans to stay in Colorado. This helps that state to attract bright students from other states. She has NOT received any scholarships that would have been granted to native Colorado students.

By catlady

December 14, 2007 3:06 PM | Link to this

HST, all colleges receive indirect federal funding via federal student aid (Pell, federal loans) and through federal monies for research, for example. This is how the feds keep schools from excluding students based on race, etc.

By SET

December 14, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

In CA and perhaps the other border states we have foreign nationals getting free health care and education - even commuting across the border to attend US public schools and be treated by US emergency rooms.

And they do so with an attitude of utter entitlement promoted by the democratic and republician parties and confirmed by our judicial system.

The border states are going from bad to worse on public services. Out of State tuition is not the real problem to us.

Urban Schools and Emergency Rooms are horrifying. Our retirees are moving out of this state because of the decline.

By Tony

December 14, 2007 5:07 PM | Link to this

How much do universities pay for out of state athletes to come play ball and still not graduate? This does nothing more than subsidize entertainment under the guise of higher education. Granted, most athletic scholarships are officially through booster organizations or foundations, but the bottom line is still the same. The entire country benefits from students who earn college degrees and I’m sure there is a trade off from other states who grant the same status to kids from Georgia. In my opinion, this is $2 million that is well spent.

By wondering mom

December 14, 2007 7:18 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know if illegal immigrants get in-state tuition along with their free health care? Just wondering…

By Delaina Alani

December 14, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this

To Wondering Mom, the answer is yes IF you mean illegal aliens.An immigrant can’t be illegal, because it (immigrant) implies they’ve followed the law, had a felony and background check and health check. Yes, illegal aliens can and do receive school loans, in state tuition, they can and they also receive city and county, first time homebuyers assistance money! How does that sit with you?

By catlady

December 14, 2007 9:02 PM | Link to this

Delani, you need to check your facts. In the past, college presidents were allowed a limited number of in state waivers for illegal immigrants. That has been stopped. Private colleges can do as they wish, and award private aid to anyone they choose. Non-US citizens are not eligible for federal aid. Colleges typically award college-specific gift aid to those students they highly wish to recruit (such as Asian students). Now, HOPE I do not know. HOPE goes to Georgia high school graduates. Since illegal immigrants graduate from Georgia high schools, I would bet they would be eligible as long as they have the grades.

Most of the Hispanic students at my school (130) will be eligible for all aid and tuition at in-state rates because they were born here. Less than 30 will not. The Latino students at my school frequently out-perform their “white” classmates”, winning double the awards their numbers would suggest.

By College Student

December 14, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this

I am a student at Georgia State, and a HOPE recipient myself.

I don’t have a problem with students from other states receiving out of state tuition. I can’t speak for other schools, but at GSU we struggle to bring in students from other states that could really benefit our school, and offering them in-state tuition is a major factor in recruiting intelligent students from out-of-state.

However, under no circumstances should they be receiving the HOPE scholarship. Haven’t we just seen the articles about how many students lost their HOPE due to new requirements?? Its not fair to those students who would have received the scholarship two years ago but didn’t quite meet the new requirements.

By DB

December 14, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this

All this over a lousy $2 million each term throughout the entire Georgia university system? Good grief — that’s almost a rounding error, as far as education goes. Grady Hospital had a $55 million deficit in one year. Hope scholarships equaled $230.4 million this year — again, this $2 mil is a rounding error.

Lots of universities give in-state status, especially to kids who add something extra to the student body. Universities and colleges who want to upgrade their pool of talent woo students who would normally stay in their own state due to economics.

By Jessica

December 15, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this

I don’t mind the out-of-state tutition being waived, be honest folks, it doesn’t cost any more for them to take up a seat in a classroom than it does others, and most likely they have an in-state job and are paying in-state taxes, but I do think they should not receive HOPE funds, especially with the financial woes HOPE has had.

By College Admin

December 15, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this

As a college adminstrator, I see out of state and foreign students show a drivers licence to prove that they’ve been in GA for one year and they are granted instate status. This is wrong. In state status should should be granted to students who prove that they have established resisdency in GA, and are not changing their status for tuition purposes ONLY.

Also, are y’all familiar with the HOPE Grant? Instate students in the technical colleges pursuing diplomas and certificates are eligible for the Hope grant. You will not believe how sone students use it to fund associsate degrees.

By Went out of state

December 15, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

As long as out-of-state tuition is being waived for honest reasons, I have no problem with it. I’m not okay with people attempting to prove in-state residency that they do not have, but I’m sure every state has that problem, not just Georgia.

I am a Georgia native who went to school in a neighboring state on an out-of-state tuition waiver based on academics. Honestly, that is the only way I could have ever afforded to go outside of Georgia for school. However, I never received any of that state’s HOPE equivalents as I am not a native of that state.

Tuition waivers are a great way to attract out-of-state students who may not otherwise be able to afford schools in other states. So, although Georgia is having to pay some for these students, we need to rembmer that other states are footing part of the bill for Georgia students.

By Racebaiter

December 15, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

That’s nothing. Why aren’t you talking about the ILLEGAL ALIENS who get in-state tuition? Oh yeah, you’re the open border leftwing AJC nuts.

By dukegirl72

December 15, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

I didn’ know HOPE was supposed to be only for those who wanted a 4 yr degree or higher. I thought the whole idea was to help people get a higher education at any Georgia post secondary school. What a shame the guy that fixes your car used HOPE (or our EMT’s, HVAC guys, the bookeeper in your office even).

By rwl

December 15, 2007 4:42 PM | Link to this

Why is this so much of a big deal? The lottery commission is robbing the Georgia educational system even more with their use of funds for bonuses!

By Bob H

December 15, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

The schools should have their funding reduced by the amount for the give aways in all cases of in state rates for out of state students. When they realize their funding is affected by their decisions, perhaps they would be more attentive to the situation.

By Mike Hunt

December 16, 2007 3:29 AM | Link to this

Even if he went to school here in Georgia, Michael Vick would still be a SUPER DUMB@$$.

By Clayton Resident

December 16, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

The real question is, are native Georgians being turned away for in-state scholarships or something? If they are not being turned away, then why is this even an issue?

Our tax dollars are being misued in much worse ways than paying an out of state student’s college tuition. I can live with this trade off.

By HS Teacher

December 16, 2007 5:48 PM | Link to this

Illegals do go to college; some of the 2 year do accept them. For years many did but most of the 4 year colleges stopped it. There have been some changes in the law. Not all HS Counselors seem to be aware of this. No SSN, no go. We have plenty illegals in our school system. Once they are 18, they are no longer eligible for any services.

There are 16 school systems that do dual enrollment with technical schools. The technical school is right on the HS campus. Newnan was the first. Rockdale is the most recent. They get HOPE—can also do dual enrollment with a 4 year college too.

If you EVER graduated from a HS in GA you are eligible for HOPE to a technical school/program. My daughter graduated in the 80s and she has a 2 year technical certificate—paid for by HOPE.

By sick of paying for illegals

December 16, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

One of the posters seems to think using the Hope to fund an associates degree or certificate is somehow wrong. That is elitist and just plain short sighted. I’m all for it. If someone can maintain a B average and lottery tickets can pay for it - it is ultimately good for GA. Illegal aliens should absolutely NOT receive aid of any kind other than a bus ticket home.

By Brucie Wylcox

December 16, 2007 9:00 PM | Link to this

AMEN!

By Kim

December 17, 2007 7:40 AM | Link to this

I have lived in Georgia for 15 years, and was told I could not get HOPE, but illegals can!!! I have a 3.33 GPA at Georgia State and I the run-around everytime about HOPE. It makes me sick to think of money being thrown at some students while those of us that work and pay taxes cannot get any assistance. Anyone who received in-state tuition or HOPE when they should not have should have to pay it back. When you take what is not yours, your a theif.

By V for Vendetta

December 17, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this

No problem with the out-of-staters getting in-state tuition. If they truly desire to attend one of our institutions more power to them. I think it’s great. As others have said, our taxes go to much worse things than kids educations.

On the flip side, they should not get HOPE. The HOPE scholarship is something that should benefit students from GA like it was originally intended to do. Of course, with almost 16,500 kids losing it the first year, maybe we should give those out-of-state kids a crack at it.

Until our education system actually prepares kids for college — you know, by teaching them about accountability for their actions, and not dumbing down the material — we can expect the number of kids losing hope to increase every year. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it crested 18,000 soon.

As far as the illegals argument is concerned … .

Until we get a grip on both education AND illegal immigration, I don’t know how we can even begin to consider fixing that problem.

By Lee

December 17, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

“The Executive of the Union has the exclusive right to expel from the national territory, immediately and without necessity of judicial proceedings, all foreigners whose stay it judges inconvenient. Foreigners may not, in any manner, involve themselves in the political affairs of the country.”

What a great concept. Too bad it’s from Mexico’s Immigration Laws.

There is a reason for in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. And that reason is the subsidization of public colleges by the Georgia taxpayer.

If colleges want to offer reduced rates to out of state students, they should be required to make up the difference from their private endowment funds.

“It’s only $2 million which is a ‘rounding error’.” Yeah. A couple million here, a couple million there, pretty soon, we’re talking real money, eh.

Finally, using HOPE money for Technical College tuition is probably the best use of those funds. What better way to break the “cycle of poverty”? Personally, I’d much rather see a marginal student receive his Plumbers or Heating & Air contractor’s license than a bunch of [fill in blank of what you think is a useless four year degree].

By jim d

December 17, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

using HOPE money for Technical College tuition is probably the best use of those funds

I’m not too sure I agree Lee,

Most of what I’ve seen in my trade coming from the tech schools must be re-trained. In that regard, it is probably a waste of HOPE funds.

By catlady

December 17, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this

3.33 GPA at Georgia State ….. your a theif.

Nuff said.