University System of Georgia institutions experiencing significant enrollment declines:
School Fall 2014 enrollment; percentage decline from peak enrollment
Albany State University 3,910; 16.15%
Armstrong State University (Savannah) 7,094; 7.65%
Bainbridge State College 2,470; 33 89%
College of Coastal Georgia (Brunswick) 3,008; 13.41%
Dalton State College 4,854; 18.94%
Darton State College (Albany) 5,623; 12.09%
East Georgia State College (Swainsboro) 2,910; 15.28%
Fort Valley State University 2,594; 33.42%
Georgia Perimeter College (Decatur) 21,371; 20.84%
Georgia Regents University (Augusta) 8,530; 15.13%
Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus) 2,666; 12.48%
Gordon State College (Barnesville) 4,047; 19.21%
Middle Georgia State College (Macon) 7,927; 22.50%
South Georgia State College (Waycross) 2,611; 21.43%
Valdosta State University 11,563; 11.66%
Source: University System of Georgia
Students in neighboring states could soon attend some Georgia colleges at much cheaper in-state tuition rates under a plan being implemented by the state’s University System.
The initiative is aimed at 10 colleges predominantly in South Georgia that have had declining enrollments.
Out-of-state tuition rates paid by non-Georgia residents are about three times more than in-state rates at most Georgia colleges.
The state’s Board of Regents, the University System’s governing body, voted Wednesday to update tuition waiver policies.
Georgia colleges already have agreements with certain counties in states bordering Georgia that allows students in those jurisdictions to attend college here at the lower rate. The new proposal would expand the agreements beyond the designated counties to prospective students throughout the entire neighboring states.
University System Chancellor Hank Huckaby addressed the enrollment declines during a budget presentation to state lawmakers earlier this year. Huckaby identified about 15 colleges, mainly in South Georgia, that had been hard hit by changes to federal financial aid, state policies limiting remedial classes offered at University System schools and competition from other higher education institutions.
To help the schools, the system is also moving from a funding formula based on enrollment to one based on performance measures like retention and graduation.
System officials hope to have the affected schools identified and the new policy implemented this fall.
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