Tuition increase approved for Georgia colleges, universities

Georgia Regents University, Georgia State University = 5.5%

University of North Georgia = 5%

Kennesaw State University = 4.4%

Georgia College & State University = 3%

Tuition will increase by 2.5% at these institutions:

Georgia Southern University

Albany State University

Valdosta State University

Armstrong Atlantic State University

Clayton State University

Columbus State University

Ft. Valley State University

Georgia Southwestern State University

Savannah State University

University of West Georgia

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

College of Coastal Georgia

Dalton State College

Gordon State College

Bainbridge State College

Darton State College

East Georgia State College

Georgia Highlands College

Georgia Perimeter College

South Georgia State College

Source: University System of Georgia

Parents and students at Georgia's 30 public colleges and universities will pay more to attend school in the fall after the state's board of regents approved another tuition hike on Tuesday.

Tuition at twenty of the schools in the University System will increase by 2. 5 percent, with rates at the remaining 10 schools increasing between 3 percent and 9 percent. Students at Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, which are research institutions, will pay the top rate, along with students at Atlanta Metropolitan College and Middle Georgia State College, which was approved for university status last month.

The 2.5 percent rate hike equates to an increase of $33 to $64 dollars per semester, depending on the instititon, for undergraduate, in-state students. Out-of state studetns at the schools will see semester increases ranging from $126 to $225. Students at the four research institions will see semester increases ranging from $221 at Georgia Regents University to $405 at Georgia Tech.

System officials said the hikes were needed for a variety of reasons, mostly involving needed resources to reduce class sizes, to retain and recruit quality faculty and to cover ongoing operations expenses on campuses.

The Board of Regents, which functions as the University System's governing body, approved the tuition hike on Tuesday during its monthly business meeting, held this month at Georgia Gwinnett College, where students will see an 8.3 percent tuition increase in the fall.

The University System received $81 million in new state funding, and the tuition with the expenses is expected to produce more than $80 million, said John Brown, the system's finance director.

Years ago, state funding covered most of the system's cost, with tuition funding 25 percent. State funding cuts over the years has led to tuition covering more expenses, moving the ratio to about a 50-50 contribution with state funds.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the Regents have approved the 2.5 percent rate for most colleges, with separate rates for the system's four research institutions.

In addition to the tuition hike, the board also approved 22 fee increases at various University System schools.