Regents announce tuition rates

On Tuesday, April 14, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) approved the tuition rates for the 2015-16 academic year. GRU students will experience a 5.5 percent increase.

“To ensure we can continue to offer quality public higher education, we must continue to invest in our institutions,” said Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “We have carefully assessed the tuition rates for our institutions to make sure we are balancing the increasing costs of providing public higher education while keeping tuition and fees as affordable as possible.”

GRU is among 10 USG institutions to have an increase of more than 2.5 percent, though several of the 10 received a more substantial increase. The University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Middle Georgia State University, and Atlanta Metropolitan State College each received a 9 percent increase, while tuition at Georgia Gwinnet College will rise 8.3 percent.

The Board of Regents considers the increase necessary to keep the costs of public higher education balanced at a level that’s roughly 50 percent state funding and 50 percent tuition, and while a tuition hike obviously increases the financial impact of a college education on students and their families, the USG continues to offer some of the lowest tuition rates among its peer public higher education systems.

Of the 16 states that make up the Sothern Regional Education Board, the USG is the seventh lowest in tuition and fees for four-year institutions.

Student fees for Health Sciences students will increase by $45, while students at the Summerville Campus will see a $75 increase. Students across both campuses will see a $30 increase in athletic fees, a $5 increase in student health fees, and a $10 increase going toward technology. The activity, wellness, and transportation fees will remain unchanged.