2024 Higher Education Directory
A resource for readers about the state’s institutions of higher learning.
If there is one word that sums up Georgia’s higher education world in 2024, it’s partnership.
From a statewide transfer agreement between the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) to boost Georgia’s cybersecurity workforce, to apprenticeship agreements between local businesses and colleges, to hospitals partnering with colleges to boost the healthcare workforce throughout rural Georgia, collaboration is alive and well across the state.
In 2023, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Georgia Match, one of the largest state-run direct admissions initiatives in the nation, to encourage every high school graduate to consider postsecondary education pathways. The innovative educa- tion and workforce initiative pairs more than 120,000 high school seniors with every USG and TCSG college that would offer them admission based on their 11th grade HOPE GPA (the grade point average of a student’s core curriculum courses) and freshman index score (a formula that uses a student’s overall GPA and SAT or ACT scores to determine admission eligibility), along with next steps to claim their spot at a college on their list. This process doesn’t guarantee admission; a student must still apply and be accepted to the school.
While tuition stayed flat for six of the past eight years, in April the USG Board of Regents approved a 2.5% increase in undergrad tuition and a 5% hike in out-of-state tuition for its 26 public colleges and universities. A new, third level of tuition for out-of-country students was also implemented this year, as well as changes to the mandatory fee structure to address the significant jump in students taking classes fully online. The USG cites escalating costs, overall inflation and increased competition from the private sector for talent as reasons for the action. The Technical College System of Georgia also saw a small tuition hike, rising from $100 to $107 per credit hour.
Still, Georgia’s colleges and universities remain an excellent value for Georgia students and families. Georgia ranks as third lowest in average undergraduate tuition and required fees among the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states, and USG ranks as the sixth lowest in average tuition and fees compared to its peers across the country.
For those who are in the midst of selecting a college – and those who simply want to know more about opportunities – the information in this guide can be a resource about the institutions of higher learning in our state. Georgia Trend’s 2024 Higher Education Directory features degree-granting schools that have a physical presence in Georgia and accept the HOPE scholarship for qualified enrollees. The listings on the following pages include contact information provided by the institutions. A designation of N/A indicates information was not available or is not applicable. – The Editors
