Georgia colleges get 'F' in affordability

National educators give state an 'F' in college affordability

By PATTI GHEZZI
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/16/04

Georgia prides itself on the HOPE scholarship program, but a new
report from a national education group gives the state an F in making
college affordable.

HOPE covers tuition at public colleges for Georgia students with a B
average, but the scholarship excludes many poor families, said
researchers in the study by the California-based National Center for
Public Policy and Higher Education.

The nonpartisan organization promotes policies that allow greater
access to higher education, such as need-based financial aid. Because
HOPE is merit-based, it didn't change Georgia's dismal assessment.

"HOPE is a scholarship program that fundamentally goes to
higher-income people," said Dennis Jones, a consultant on the report.

Georgia officials condemned the study as flawed and one called its
findings "ludicrous."

Jones pointed out that Georgia still lags behind national averages in
students graduating from high school, suggesting HOPE has not lived up
to expectations that it would inspire poor kids to work hard and go to
college.

"In that regard, it isn't necessarily a smashing success," said Jones,
head of the nonprofit National Center for High Education Management
Systems, which helps colleges improve management practices.

Overall, Georgia got a mixed report card: a C in preparing kids for
college, a D in college participation, or the percentage who attend
college, and a B in the percentage of students completing college.

Georgia wasn't alone in getting an F in affordability. More than
two-thirds of the states scored as low, and most states that didn't
get an F got a D. California got the highest grade — a B — because it
offers need-based financial aid, Jones said.

Georgia's F is stinging in light of the state's reputation as a
national leader in using lottery revenue to help families pay for
college. Other states, such as West Virginia, have modeled their
merit-based scholarships after HOPE.

The study considered college costs relative to average family incomes.
Georgia's incomes are so low — $20,201 for the lowest-earning 40
percent of the population — that college is unaffordable, researchers
concluded. The cost of a four-year college here, including room and
board, was listed as $7,107 a year.

Students from the poorest families are eligible for federal aid but
not for enough aid to cover all college costs.

Georgia officials pointed out flaws in the study. For example, many
students do not need room and board, said Arlethia Perry-Johnson, a
spokeswoman for the University System of Georgia. And Georgia's
tuition is lower than most in the nation, ranking 35th for research
universities and 39th for two- and four-year institutions.

David Lee of the Georgia Student Finance Commission said the report's
conclusions "fly in the face of common sense."

Although HOPE is merit-based, millions of dollars go to students from
poor families, he said. In 2002, $88 million of $322 million went to
students from families poor enough to qualify for the federal grants.
Also, HOPE provides a free education to any Georgian who wants to
attend a technical college, he added.

State Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton) said he was surprised Georgia
got an F, but he agrees the state is "sorely lacking" in need-based
college aid. Officials at the State University of West Georgia, which
is in his district, see students quit because they can't pay tuition,
he said.

Hamrick might introduce a bill next year that would address need-based
aid.

Not that Georgia is alone. 34 states got "F"s and 13 "D"s in this report.
We wont be seeing grade-inflation here.

I havent seen enough information to deconstruct the agenda and competence
of the non-profit organization that conducted this study. I dont accept
studies at face value. Education affordability has taken a beating since
the last recession.