Regents suspend fixed tuition program

Fixed for Four is no more. Freshmen entering Georgia’s public colleges and universities will no longer have their tuition protected from increases for four years of college.

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The state Board of Regents on Tuesday voted unanimously to discontinue the 2006 policy that guaranteed freshmen would pay the same tuition for four years. The policy continues to apply to students who enrolled while it was in effect.

This fall, freshmen will pay the same cost per credit hour as last year’s entering class. But overall tuition costs will rise 25 percent at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech because of a new way of calculating tuition.

Tuition also will increase at other schools for students taking more than 12 hours credit.

In the past, tuition was based on the cost of 12 hours of classes, but students could take more classes at no extra charge. Now, at all schools except Georgia Tech and UGA, students must pay for additional hours above 12.

Students at Georgia Tech and UGA will pay a flat charge based on 15 hours of classes and can take more at no extra charge.

The cost per hour of tuition varies by institution. The state’s research universities charge the highest rate, $203, and two-year colleges charge the lowest at $77. Those rates could go up next year and in subsequent years.

Students under Fixed for Four will not be affected by the changes.

“We want to do as much as feasible to help our students in tough times this year, provide our institutions with budget flexibility in future years and help us address our reduced budget picture for fiscal year 2010,” said University System Chancellor Erroll B. Davis.

In addition to setting tuition, the Regents unanimously voted to continue system-wide fees imposed in December that range from $50 to $100, depending on the institution.

Unlike tuition, the fees are not covered by the lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship program.

Regents approved a budget of $2.17 billion for fiscal year 2010, beginning July 1. That amount includes federal stimulus funds of $92.6 million.

State funding increased to the university system for costs such as retirement obligations, merit increases, and maintenance, but decreased in other areas. Overall, the 2010 budget is $127.7 million less than the base budget for fiscal year 2009.

The budget is subject to final approval of the state budget by Gov. Sonny Perdue.

For complete information on tuition and fees for university system institutions, go to http://www.usg.edu/student_affairs/tuition.