The cost to take the exam for a GED diploma will more than double starting July 1, state officials announced Thursday.

Currently it costs $95 to take the fives tests the make up the exam. Under the new rules it will cost $50 for each test -- a total of $250 if the exams are taken on five different days. The price drops if students take multiple tests on the same day.

The increase is because of changes to the testing fee structure, Technical College System of Georgia officials said.

About 20,000 Georgians earned a GED diploma last year.