The Red and Black

While students attending Georgia's universities

and colleges are seeing higher tuition increases than

students across the nation, the overall cost of school

in Georgia is still considerably lower.

Tuition at Georgia's universities and colleges

increased 6 percent this year as compared to a five

percent increase in the national average, according to

an annual report released by the College Board, an

association that collects information for prospective

students.

"If you look around the country, Georgia is in a very

enviable position as far as education," said Allan

Barber, vice president for business and finance. "Even

with increases, education in Georgia is still a bar-

gain."

The September issue of Money magazine ranked

the University as one of the top 100 college buys out

of 1,115 schools based on 16 criteria such as tuition

costs, entrance exam results, and faculty quality and

resources.

For in-state students, the University ranked ninth

as a "best buy," and for out-of-state students, the

University ranked 27th.

The Board of Regents passed a 6 percent increase

in undergraduate tuition in April 1996 to offset the

costs of inflation and to fund a merit-based salary

increase for University system employees.

Graduate tuition increased 5 percent, law school

and pharmacy tuition increased 15 percent and vet

school tuition increased 25 percent. These increases

were passed to bring the costs of these programs clos-

er to the national averages.

"The trend during the last 10 years is for a shifting

of college financing from state support to tuition sup-

port," said Joe Marks, director of data services for the

Southern Regional Education Board, a non-partisan,

non-profit group which serves as an information

clearinghouse and advisory group on educational

issues.

"In Georgia, that trend has been counteracted by

the HOPE Scholarship program," Marks said.

The HOPE Scholarship, which is available to in-

state undergraduate students, makes the cost of col-

lege even cheaper by providing free tuition and $100

toward books as long as a "B" average is maintained.

"My sister and I are both in college so without

HOPE it would be really tough to put us both through

school and pay for an apartment," said Lisa Davis, a

freshman from Vidalia.

About 10,700 students at the University receive

the HOPE Scholarship, said Susan Little, associate

director of student financial aid.

"For in-state students with HOPE, the University

is an incredible bargain," Little said.

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