Lawmaker wants to limit college tuition hikes

Tuition at all 30 public colleges and universities increased last year. Increases were 9 percent at two of the largest schools, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, and 2.5 percent at 20 other schools in the University System. Rates at the remaining eight institutions are up between 3 percent and 9 percent.

This is the fourth year tuition has risen by 2.5 percent at most schools, and the majority of students will see increases of at least 3 percent, according to enrollment figures. System officials said campus presidents requested the increases to reduce class sizes, retain and recruit high-quality faculty, fund higher-level degrees, improve technology and cover ongoing operating expenses. The state’s board of regents approved the increases earlier this year.

Ramsey said many states have some kind of tuition limits and said it’s no coincidence there are so many bills filed each year in Georgia to boost revenue for the HOPE scholarships. Those scholarships are funded by the state lottery but the grants no longer cover the full cost of tuition for most students.

“We have to look at the growth in cost itself,” Ramsey said. “Student debt is crushing kids.”

He said many families can handle 2- to 3-percent increases and plan accordingly. “But when you’re getting increases of 8, 9, 10 percent you can’t plan for that.”