Senate study committee reviews rising living costs, student debt at Georgia colleges

Students and education advocates say rising living costs pose the biggest challenge to college affordability in Georgia.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability held its third meeting Wednesday at Georgia College and State University, focusing on college affordability, Georgia’s student loan debt crisis and the rising cost of living. 

Though tuition at Georgia’s public colleges has remained relatively steady, students and education leaders told lawmakers that rising rents, transportation and other living expenses are making it difficult for students to afford a degree. 

The committee heard from Georgia college leaders who described how financial pressures are forcing many to balance academics with part-time jobs.  Annie Dinschel, a freshman marketing major at Georgia College, shared her personal struggle.

“The cost of living is going up,” she said. “So just managing that is a little bit difficult and it’s time consuming. Try to manage your job and manage, social life and school at the same time.”

Dinschel said that while school remains her top priority, she must work to cover expenses, meaning other parts of her life may go the wayside.

Her message to lawmakers: “Try to help with financial problems because we’re all college students and we’re just getting out of our houses, so like to make college a little bit more affordable for college students.”

Ashley Young, an education analyst with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, presented research supporting the creation of a comprehensive need-based aid program. She is pushing for a grant program targeted at students with the greatest financial need, with no additional work or volunteer requirements. 

“We want to make sure that students do not have to have a work requirement or volunteer requirement to be eligible, just that they have to have the financial need and to have satisfactory academic progress to continue progressing,” she said.

According to Young, every $1,300 in need-based aid increases a student’s likelihood of enrolling and graduating.

Hakira Farley, a junior at Georgia College, echoed the need for more support, saying many teens feel discouraged from applying to college because they lack basic necessities.