The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) voted Wednesday to approve tuition rates for the 2026–27 academic year at USG’s 25 public colleges and universities. Tuition for in-state undergraduate students will increase by 1%, while tuition for out-of-state and out-of-country students will increase by 3%.
The Board also approved changes to mandatory fees at 13 of USG’s 25 institutions. Among those institutions, fee changes at Kennesaw State University and Georgia Southern University will reduce costs for in-person students.
From the press release:
This marks only the fourth time in 10 years that the Board has approved limited tuition increases for Georgia students. Recognizing the impact any increase can have on students and families, the Board approved a 1% increase for in-state undergraduates that remains well below inflation. Over the past decade, average tuition growth for Georgians has stayed below 1%, while consumer prices rose 2.7% in the most recent year alone.
These and other cost-containment efforts have helped make USG one of the most affordable public university systems in the South and nationwide.
Among the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states, Georgia ranks third lowest in average undergraduate tuition and required fees at public institutions, according to the College Board. National data also ranks USG fifth lowest among its public peers nationwide.
“For more than a decade, USG and the Board of Regents have prioritized keeping college affordable for families so more students can pursue higher education right here in Georgia,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “With enrollment at record levels, we’re focused on limiting new financial hurdles and delivering real value on every campus. Today’s decision reinforces that commitment. We are making a continued investment in Georgia’s future and in the students whose degrees will drive Georgia’s economy, strengthen our communities and open doors to prosperity.”
The tuition decision comes as USG institutions operate within a state funding formula established more than 40 years ago, while managing rising operational costs and continued growth in student enrollment. Earlier this month, the Georgia General Assembly approved a state budget for fiscal year 2027 that includes new investments in system initiatives supporting research, instruction, facilities and infrastructure, alongside a $34.2 million reduction in enrollment‑driven formula funding. The budget is currently awaiting the governor’s signature.
Georgia’s shared funding formula originally anticipated the state covering 75% of instructional costs, with tuition accounting for the remaining 25%. Since the Great Recession, however, austerity‑era reductions have shifted that balance, with the state’s share now closer to 57%.
Despite these pressures, affordability has remained a clear and consistent priority for USG and the Board, reflected in a measured approach to tuition decisions.
An independent performance audit released at the end of 2024 by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts found that USG tuition declined by more than 24% after adjusting for inflation. As a result, students today pay, on average, less in tuition than they did in 2017, when adjusted for inflation.
The Board also eliminated a mandatory Special Institutional Fee four years ago with support from Gov. Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia General Assembly, reducing the cost of college in Georgia. Without the fee, which was originally implemented during the Great Recession, students have saved between $340 and $1,088 annually.
The system will continue to support student success and deliver the academic quality students and families expect, while helping ensure the long‑term strength of Georgia’s workforce and economy.
In that spirit, USG supports the Georgia Senate’s decision to form a study committee to review and modernize the state’s higher education funding formula and looks forward to working with state leaders on solutions that align access, affordability and sustainability for students across the state.
View Board members for the Board of Regents here.
