Georgia’s public colleges and universities would be barred from major tuition hikes under legislation filed in the state House on Thursday.
House Bill 977, by House Majority Whip Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, says no four-year college may increase tuition more than the rate of inflation. The same would apply to student fees. The limits could only be waived if two legislative committees voted to do so.
The bill, however, would only take effect if voters agreed to amend the constitution to allow the General Assembly to regulate the university system's tuition decisions. Ramsey, who announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election, also filed House Resolution 1326, which would put the question to voters if two-thirds of the House and Senate agree.
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.”
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