Technical College System of Georgia board approves tuition increase

Mark Smith (left) & Chris Hearn replace a tire in the Motorsports Vehicle Technology Program at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood, Ga. The board that oversees Georgia’s technical college system voted on June 6, 2019 to increase tuition at its schools this fall, the first increase in five years, officials said. (Photo by Phil Skinner)

Mark Smith (left) & Chris Hearn replace a tire in the Motorsports Vehicle Technology Program at Lanier Technical College in Oakwood, Ga. The board that oversees Georgia’s technical college system voted on June 6, 2019 to increase tuition at its schools this fall, the first increase in five years, officials said. (Photo by Phil Skinner)

Students attending technical colleges in Georgia will pay more for their education this fall.

The Technical College System of Georgia board of directors voted Thursday to increase tuition from $89 per credit hour to $100 per credit hour. It’s the first increase in five years, said Mark D’Alessio, the system’s communications director.

D’Alessio said the increase “will provide our technical colleges the opportunity to keep pace with increased operational costs and expand enrollment to meet the growing demand for a middle-skill workforce.”

The total credit enrollment for the system was about 137,000 students last year.

The increase may not be as great for some students. The Georgia Student Finance Commission voted in May to increase HOPE Scholarship awards by 3% and to provide an extra $500 a semester, or $375 per quarter, for students receiving the Zell Miller Scholarship for the next academic year.