Dalton State students will not see an increase in tuition or fees for the 2021-2022 school year.
The Board of Regents approved on Tuesday no tuition increase at any of the 26 University System of Georgia (USG) institutions, which includes Dalton State. Dalton State students who are residents of Georgia or Tennessee taking 15 credit hours will pay $2,123 a semester, while those outside of Georgia or Tennessee will pay $6,478 for 15 credit hours.
This is the second year in a row the regents have approved no tuition increase.
“USG over the past several years has remained committed to making public higher education as affordable as possible for students and their families, while maintaining results that rank our campuses among some of the best in the nation,” USG Chancellor Steve Wrigley said. “We are grateful for the support of the board and state leaders toward this priority and recognize students’ hard work especially over the past year to maintain success toward graduating and entering Georgia’s workforce with college degrees.”
Dalton State is ranked among the top 24 colleges nationwide for the best return on investment by Business Insider and continues to be one of the most affordable schools in the nation. Most students graduate from Dalton State with no or little student loan debt.
“We believe in access to a high-quality education,” Venable said. “We know a college education is transformative, and therefore, we strive to provide rigorous academics and an engaging college experience at an affordable cost. Many students are being impacted by the global pandemic, and we don’t want that to derail their career path. We continue to graduate students who fill local workforce needs.”
With the board’s action, the USG has limited tuition increases among its institutions to an average 0.75% annually since 2016, well below the rate of inflation. USG now also has the third lowest median in-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at four-year institutions among the 16 states that make up the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB).
“It is more important than ever for the Board of Regents to remove barriers that may stand in the way of students’ success.” Chairman Sachin Shailendra said. “That work must include keeping the cost of our colleges and universities affordable, so that students and their families can successfully get their degrees, improve their quality of life and help increase Georgia’s economic competitiveness.”
Dalton State delivers a transformational education experience in a diverse, caring community. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, nearly 5,000 students enjoy a thriving campus life. Dalton State remains Georgia’s first and only Hispanic-Serving Institution, a federal designation awarded to schools where at least 25% of the student population identifies as Hispanic.
