A review of rising college costs in Georgia by the state auditor shows parents and students are shouldering more of the costs over the past decade.

Here are some highlights from the report:

  • The average yearly cost of attending a state university grew from $8,361 in 2006 to $14,791 in 2016
  • The average HOPE scholarship decreased 22 percent
  • Nearly all universities in the system have increased fees to cover costs of everything from athletic programs to paying for facilities such as new student centers
  • The state legislature failed to appropriate enough money to keep up with enrollment growth, leading to an essential decrease in amount of money per student educated

About the Author

Keep Reading

Uta Thomas picks up her son, Jax, during a public hearing in Atlanta on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. She implored the school board not to close Dunbar Elementary. 
"You would centralize education to decentralized families," she said. "You would break apart a community hub." (Abbey Cutrer / AJC)

Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Featured

Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com