USG Tuition Strategy
The University System of Georgia’s new tuition strategy has some changes for both new students and students in the System who enrolled prior to fall 2006. The various sections of this web site are designed to provide information about the new tuition strategy and how it will affect new and returning students.
New students enrolling for the first time Summer 2009 and beyond
Given the current economic conditions facing many Georgia families, for new students, tuition is frozen at last year’s per credit hour tuition rate. Students at all institutions (except Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia (UGA)) will pay tuition based on a per credit hour rate. The change to a per credit hour tuition rate for all new students reflects the fact that a student must take 15 credit hours a semester in order to graduate in four years. The current full-time student definition is set at 12 credit hours; students are not charged for credit hours above 12. This means that students who wish to take additional hours above the 12 will now pay for those additional hours. At Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, new students will pay a flat tuition rate calculated on 15 credit hours – again, at the rate set in fall 2008. The Guaranteed Tuition Plan will not apply to new students enrolling for the first time Summer 2009 and beyond.
USG Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2006
For current USG students who enrolled prior to fall 2006, tuition for fall 2009 is set at the fall 2008 per credit hour tuition rate. Students at all institutions (except Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia (UGA)) will pay tuition based on a per credit hour rate. The change to a per credit hour tuition rate for all new students reflects the fact that a student must take 15 credit hours a semester in order to graduate in four years. The current full-time student definition is set at 12 credit hours; students are not charged for credit hours above 12. This means that students who wish to take additional hours above the 12 will now pay for those additional hours. At Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, new students will pay a flat tuition rate calculated on 15 credit hours – again, at the rate set in fall 2008.
Students in the Guaranteed Tuition Plan
Students who enrolled as freshmen in fall 2006, fall 2007 and fall 2008 are under the Regents’ Guaranteed Tuition Plan, and will thus see no changes in tuition for fall 2009. The Regents will continue to honor the “fixed-for-four” tuition guarantee to the rising sophomores, rising juniors, and rising seniors already on that plan.
ALL students – Special Institutional Fee
All students – students enrolled prior to fall 2006, students in the Guaranteed Tuition Plan, and new students Summer 2009 and beyond – will pay a special institutional fee as a means to help maintain academic quality in the face of significant reductions to the University System’s budget for the Fiscal Year 2010. This fee is: $100 at research universities, $75 at regional and state universities, and $50 at state colleges and two-year colleges.