[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6469465,"mediaKeyId","5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914","parentId",5780885,"title","Atlanta and statewide nonprofit programs say needs‑based aid and advising raise college persistence for low‑income students","audioSeconds",16543,"startMs",3588000,"endMs",20131000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914&start=3588&end=20131","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914/thumbnail_3588000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469465/Georgia/Atlanta-and-statewide-nonprofit-programs-say-needsbased-aid-and-advising-raise-college-persistence-for-lowincome-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469465-84d27cec07784748d9b0c12cae8c0834/orig.mp4?Expires=1770514498&Signature=f1UC472c-uIT6yPrz5iqm4Dy8Gdl6AHDbTN0LPNEY7nH7DF5VbTRv5K9Auh6WyU-fJwUA-0rslqMYCcb3mVDn~6CgpS-AM6cpMVv~-cayhAPwN5U7LxO74r7yEuRJpUOf9MgVdk5xdLqwV7taJhLuVxkkqIGAK0CoQ-BqsWbye~S1yCNB5rQ4hvA1CAnPSuq-Ws7dHSBOO37lUD1RZEEnyDb4ad5aVvtHa5geLsIqlvk6bMfDKh91HDc5oytdUsbqeaTZ00AAvMxWtHlgS21YQ-1pkfg1p0goLrnaoPTqghtrXLsF2N1uPQEtA9soxJ~7S~emA2b14wM7leUzUwemA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-09-18T20:09:43.497Z","article","A cluster of nonprofit and independent college speakers told the Senate study committee that targeted, needs‑based support and advising are essential to help low‑income and first‑generation Georgians enroll and complete postsecondary credentials.

What they said: Jenna Colvin, president of the Georgia Independent College Association (GICA), said private nonprofit colleges provide substantial institutional aid and that net price—what students actually pay after grants—can be markedly lower than published “sticker” tuition. Colvin highlighted the federal Pell Grant’s central role, urged improved FAFSA completion to capture unclaimed Pell dollars, and flagged the Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) as an inflation‑eroded program that has not kept pace with historical benchmarks.

Andrew College President Dr. William Kennedy described his rural Southwest Georgia campus and said roughly 69% of his students are Pell recipients; he noted institutional discounting and heavy use of institutional scholarships and last‑mile aid to keep students enrolled. He said Andrew awards institutional aid that he described as “foregone revenue” and that the college added two needs‑based programs to address small but decisive gaps for high‑need students.

Cheryl Watson Harris, president of Achieve Atlanta, described a decade of work providing a $5,000 needs‑based scholarship (and $1,500 for associate/technical students), completion grants and emergency funds, plus coaching and advising. She cited independent evaluation by Georgia Policy Lab finding Achieve Atlanta scholars persist and graduate at higher rates than like peers; she said scholars borrow less and work fewer hours, which the program links to better academic outcomes.

Jamezia Craig of College AIM and alumna‑staff Kamora Campbell described College AIM’s high‑school advising and follow‑through services in DeKalb County. They emphasized 90% Pell eligibility among the students they serve and said about 80% of their students remain in Georgia for college; Campbell described how private out‑of‑state offers with full demonstrated need packages sometimes become the only financially viable option for some Georgia students.

Why it matters: Presenters argued that Georgia’s heavy reliance on merit aid (HOPE/Zell Miller) leaves many high‑need students with gaps covering living costs. They urged greater needs‑based funding, better FAFSA completion and attention to the Tuition Equalization Grant’s erosion so private in‑state options remain accessible.

Provenance: GICA, Andrew College, Achieve Atlanta and College AIM presentations and student testimony appear in the transcript between the GICA presentation starting with Jenna Colvin and the College AIM signing‑day and alumni remarks that closed the afternoon panel.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/18/2025 Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives of GICA, Andrew College, Achieve Atlanta and College AIM told the Senate committee that needs‑based scholarships, completion grants and high‑touch advising increase enrollment and completion for Pell‑eligible and first‑generation students; presenters cited FAFSA completion and tuition equalization grant limits as barriers.","taxTitle","Senate Study Committees, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",29138,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6469470,"Georgia State’s student‑success tools — retention grants, ‘Keep Hope Alive’ and targeted supports — cited as effective in preventing stopouts",2259,14216000,16475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914&start=14216&end=16475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914/thumbnail_14216000.jpg","/articles/6469470/Georgia/Georgia-States-studentsuccess-tools-retention-grants-Keep-Hope-Alive-and-targeted-supports-cited-as-effective-in-preventing-stopouts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469470-d55b2953135e650344046b0f4c834dc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770514498&Signature=RQ~UuuSrcA0yRjbo2RiVCNtFcn9L3fe~-J7WWa~93eYv3pALtRl4FNlNn00-cihBAMykASI9uC8sie7GtGuYtuU2VpA9fUipYgtw0RhdAk1Z8BmVFTK-xuc1oAaJYgLOU2XZxEIZXtYhseT-7DQNTQTd3WtndmWa~hOOLVf-os15dR4OvBTLN5Pa8bXeUER5ex9BDNQ8yqEYrwhnGyiBmzfEuTEeblTFU3rfPRaEN-Z7wo3f9Smvq2ttQKeFrrowwSSAcOZrH8H14aKxFehFRAatX0-C-CaFHz2PhC4Of-SLHlhGEmCxg8ftkbROdj6fv4mHEs2COEXlHjZFnQBtNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Timothy Renick, director at the National Institute for Student Success and former Georgia State administrator, summarized longitudinal evidence the committee can use to weigh needs‑based aid and institutional interventions.

Lede: Renick told the committee unmet student need is large and linked to lower graduation rates, and he described several data‑driven interventions that Georgia State tested and now shares with partner campuses nationwide.

Nut graf: Using institutional packaging rules and federal cost‑of‑attendance definitions, Renick said a large share of undergraduates face “unmet need” — the gap between aid+work and the full cost of attendance. At Georgia State he said about 60% of undergraduates have some level of unmet need and the average gap for those students is over $10,000. He connected one‑semester stopouts for financial reasons to a sharp decline in eventual graduation: students who did not stop out graduated at roughly 71% in the study while students who stopped out for a single semester graduated at about 24%.

What works: Renick described several operationally feasible programs with supporting data:
- Panther Retention Grants: a no‑application, data‑targeted emergency grant that identifies near‑graduation students with small outstanding balances (typical average grant around $900). Renick said recipients were 55 percentage points likelier to graduate within the observed window; Ithaka S+R review found 85% of those seniors graduated within one year.
- Keep Hope Alive: focused advising and modest stipend ($500 for two semesters) plus tutoring and proactive advising for students who lose the HOPE scholarship, enabling roughly 80% to regain HOPE and substantially improving their odds of completion.
- Academic recovery and AI coaching: targeted course sections for students who failed key gateway classes (improving pass rates from ≈50% to over 70% in retake cohorts) and chatbot/AI coaching tools that Renick said reduced failure rates in introductory math from 27% to 10% in sections using the tool (a 17‑point difference).

Why it matters: Renick framed these as high‑return, operational changes that reduce time‑to‑degree, lower average debt at graduation, and reduce the state’s effective unmet need. He said Georgia State reduced average graduating bachelor students’ debt in recent years to roughly the mid‑$16,000s — about half the national average — in part because students graduate faster and borrow less.

Committee response and follow up: Senators asked for more detail about the distribution of unmet need buckets and cost thresholds. Renick said the full diagnostic and cohort follow‑ups are part of the NIS work with roughly 140 partner campuses and that the committee could obtain the underlying analyses if requested.

Provenance: Renick’s remarks begin when he was introduced to the committee and continue through his final recommendations on institution‑level policies and AI pilots.","Dr. Timothy Renick summarized multi‑year evidence from Georgia State and the National Institute for Student Success showing unmet financial need increases stopouts and lowers graduation rates; he described targeted low‑cost interventions that restored retention and improved graduation outcomes.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6469474,"Technical College System of Georgia presents enrollment gains and low tuition rates; details on HOPE/HOPE Career grants",1687,4260000,5947000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914&start=4260&end=5947","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914/thumbnail_4260000.jpg","/articles/6469474/Georgia/Technical-College-System-of-Georgia-presents-enrollment-gains-and-low-tuition-rates-details-on-HOPEHOPE-Career-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469474-cfab2bd94784c497c576ff0c2ee31646/orig.mp4?Expires=1770514498&Signature=XysbqKSkmBffr7Mz5QZHWNxTuRlHhL3PMFUoD2eTn94M8C~am0so91k29ejH2cJq~tD2a-J9jUe14veXyUZ9qLLVGJ9qymnfDFOWhvqHZEG6Jc-hJP~W1OIhx6vz2mnUMxEpYQxSEGYROPAVLT6yHTxon5VxfmaFuhrIfL5rtgB5aYYwAOVI7BwMSps6qSjIR8lPZ6U5GiwzTNmi4rsDU-bPIePuSRzhnsaWnBtr55kxb1OqOPPNYm6bEnT7Ics~9~d0iz8MUqqCZCetiPa2JPeE~szygEXAWLzje8JZQCS0W4-K2H4Cr5w9Dq~WqXJ6ntcWlPxs1HT3g6LIVoyV-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg Dozier, commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, told the Senate study committee that the state’s technical colleges have one of the lowest tuition rates in the nation and that the system is seeing strong enrollment rebounds since COVID.

Dozier told senators TCSG maintains a standard tuition rate across its 22 colleges—“a $107 per credit hour” figure he said is one of the lowest public costs nationwide—and described program pathways that include short certificates, one‑year diplomas and two‑year associate degrees. He said cost to complete varies by credential: certificates can range roughly $2,400 to $7,300, diplomas about $7,900 to $12,200 and two‑year pathways about $12,260 (figures presented by the commissioner).

Why it matters: TCSG serves a high share of working and lower‑income students, and Commissioner Dozier told the committee roughly 76.9% of TCSG students receive some form of financial aid; about 41,637 students across the system receive HOPE awards in various forms. He highlighted that HOPE grants can fully cover tuition for many certificate pathways and that additional career grants cover books and fees for qualifying high‑demand programs.

Key points from the presentation and Q&A:
- Uniform tuition and affordability: Commissioner Dozier said the system’s single tuition rate is $107 per credit hour and noted tuition has risen from $88 over the last decade after two increases. He emphasized that many TCSG credentials are lower cost than four‑year pathways.
- Enrollment rebound: Dozier reported steep post‑COVID recovery—credit hour increases of 3% (2023), 10.6% (2024), and projected 9.4% for 2025 on the formula funding calculation—with system headcount growth and expanding workforce training tied to employer needs.
- Financial aid mix and usage: Dozier said about 41,637 students across the system were on HOPE (scholarship, grant, Zell Miller categories combined) and that roughly 76.9% of students use some form of aid. He noted about 5,700 students are Pell recipients. He also explained six colleges offer student loan programs locally, with outstanding loan balances varying by campus.
- HOPE grants and career grants: Dozier described the HOPE grant (for technical certificates, 2.0 GPA requirement) and the HOPE Career Grant (for certain high‑demand pathways, covering tuition or books/fees), and he provided counts for awards and graduates in the 18 high‑demand pathways.

Senators asked how technical colleges connect to workforce needs, about Pell eligibility and student loan availability, and whether certificate students can transition to associate degrees. Dozier said transitions are possible and praised dual enrollment and Georgia Match as contributors to application spikes.

Provenance: The TCSG presentation begins when the committee called Commissioner Greg Dozier to the table and runs through the conclusion of his remarks and questions from senators.","Commissioner Greg Dozier told the Senate study committee the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has low, uniform tuition ($107/credit hour), strong post‑pandemic enrollment growth, and multiple grant programs including HOPE grants and HOPE Career Grants that fund many technical certificate pathways.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6469476,"Chancellor Sonny Perdue tells Senate study committee Georgia tuition remains low but affordability gaps persist",1325,1546000,2871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914&start=1546&end=2871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780885-fc30c4aeeefeaebd8309f979b26f1914/thumbnail_1546000.jpg","/articles/6469476/Georgia/Chancellor-Sonny-Perdue-tells-Senate-study-committee-Georgia-tuition-remains-low-but-affordability-gaps-persist","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469476-55daecd9e97f4fe061ae4747b58602da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770514498&Signature=oNcwoq0uRcw6yjtq5zcTmBPRQD4gqihaRpOoAYi5kq81gOPd3cRwLObNqvmTKvQVoAEU9-L8mHH7QR6yhfRJyFXJHYgjNbBHzVob8gQ0pJFnAdZ-iz4Qn5GH26szdwhSRdgD4wOWRBOGmjC~g9Q3hnMDC5XDQ-Z2WwpXWiLN7ii1Q8p61ccMF7svXz1dHtI3jg9vrkcIV9fz4lxxRoQM59-thJQU3om~guR6pysb9ibu-7yrctoyvFsZKA-rt8OUGyMaIWepqMrp6aun1h32m1nAxEgYZxkxxDCTg~O3Tf5x3u2ULST4kYRZFyaNat1Xqr0eJWbn2swCBEoIA-ylNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chancellor Sonny Perdue, head of the University System of Georgia, told members of a Senate study committee that tuition at Georgia public colleges remains comparatively low but that affordability challenges persist for many students.

Perdue opened his presentation by pointing committee members to a 30‑page slide deck and national data sources, saying the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System spreadsheets the committee received will “shed some important light.” He noted USG yearly tuition and fees average “approximately $6,500” and called attention to a Department of Audits finding that student‑level share of cost fell, saying institutional mandatory fees “were virtually all below the inflation” rate over recent years.

Why it matters: Perdue framed higher education affordability as both a tuition question and a living‑cost question. He emphasized that while tuition and mandatory fees have been held down in recent years, housing, food, mental‑health services and campus safety add to students’ total cost. The chancellor warned many students focus on immediate out‑of‑pocket costs—room and board and other living expenses—rather than long‑term career returns.

Key points from the presentation and committee discussion:
- Comparative position: Perdue said public university tuition in Georgia ranks among the lowest nationally: “This is… sixth lowest in the state tuition fees across the country,” and third lowest within Southern Regional Education Board states after Florida and North Carolina. He said he did not have a full peer‑state comparison on hand but offered to provide it later.
- Enrollment and state support: Perdue noted record enrollment increases and said USG expects another rise “around 4%,” roughly 15,000 students. He said state appropriations once covered about 75% of formula funding but are now closer to 57% of the formula share.
- Student debt and migration effects: Perdue discussed a Federal Reserve study showing a $42,300 average debt for borrowers residing in Georgia and said much of that figure reflects in‑migration of higher‑debt borrowers rather than debt accrued by students educated in Georgia.
- Living costs and student expectations: Perdue argued that many of the rising costs are related to housing and student expectations about amenities and safety. “Students are customers. They have choices,” he said, describing competitive campus amenities and expanded student services as cost drivers.
- Philanthropy and targeted assistance: Perdue called out philanthropic efforts and systemwide initiatives that help students, noting a recent gala raised “over $4,000,000,” including $2,000,000 from Truist Bank, to deploy for needs‑based scholarships. He also thanked the legislature for eliminating a $230,000,000 special institutional fee in FY23 as a major affordability step.

Committee members pressed for more comparative data and for breakdowns of which student groups receive HOPE and Zell Miller awards. Perdue said those demographic and program‑level questions are being prepared by USG research staff and will be provided to the committee at a later meeting.

Looking ahead: Perdue told senators that many affordability levers sit outside the university system—particularly housing and local living costs—and asked the committee to look at needs‑based aid and FAFSA completion as ways to boost access without large tuition changes.

Provenance: Committee recognition of the chancellor and Perdue’s remarks appear in the committee transcript beginning when the chair recognized “Chancellor Sonny Perdue, the University System of Georgia” and conclude when the panel thanked Perdue and moved to the next presenter.","Chancellor Sonny Perdue told the Senate study committee the University System of Georgia (USG) has kept tuition relatively low, highlighted audit findings that student-level share of cost declined, and flagged unmet needs such as living expenses and debt that still drive affordability problems.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Atlanta and statewide nonprofit programs say needs‑based aid and advising raise college persistence for low‑income students

Georgia State’s student‑success tools — retention grants, ‘Keep Hope Alive’ and targeted supports — cited as effective in preventing stopouts

Technical College System of Georgia presents enrollment gains and low tuition rates; details on HOPE/HOPE Career grants

Chancellor Sonny Perdue tells Senate study committee Georgia tuition remains low but affordability gaps persist