Students react to tuition increase (w/audio)

Tuition has been raised at the University of Georgia, and students are not happy.

The University’s Board of Regents approved a 25 percent increase in tuition for in-state students this week, and in these hard economic times, the reaction has been negative from students.

“This is really, really bad,” said Daniel Shirey, a sophomore from John’s Creek. “It really makes me wonder if I can afford to stay here for the next couple years. I know it’s my fault that I’m about to lose [the HOPE scholarship], and probably will be here for more than four years, but this is going to be tough on my parents, and me too.”

“I know the University is struggling too, but I can’t believe this is happening.”

According to the UGA Factbook, 82 percent of University students are in-state. And while the state will continue to pay the entirety of tuition for students on the HOPE scholarship, a lottery-funded scholarship for students with a grade point average at or above 3.0, this spike will hurt those without HOPE the most.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Hunter Gipson, a junior from Cumming, and a recent transfer from Kennesaw State University.

“Maybe I should have stayed at Kennesaw. It would have been cheaper.”

Of 25 students interviewed at the Miller Learning Center on campus Tuesday evening, 12 said they no longer had HOPE, and they expected the increase in tuition to “affect them and their family.” Four more said they were teetering on the brink of a 3.0.

Students who enrolled between fall 2006 and fall 2008 are a part of the “Fixed for Four” program, which guarantees a fixed tuition rate for four years, will not be affected by the increase. But if they are here for longer than their allotted four years, like Shirey says he may be, they will be.

“It’s going to be tough I guess, but we all just need to suck it up and just make the best of it,” said Jennifer Ferlisi, a sophomore from Athens. “We’ll all just have to make do.”