This past Tuesday, April 14, Georgia’s Board of Regents approved an increase in tuition for 30 of Georgia’s public colleges and universities.

20 of the schools will receive a 2.5 percent increase while the 10 remaining schools will have a tuition increase between 3 percent and 9 percent. Research institutions such as Georgia Technical College and the University of Georgia will pay the top rate.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the 2.5 percent rate will level out to around a $33 to $64 per semester for in-state students while the out-of-state rate will run closer to $216 to $225 each semester.

The rates were configured in accordance with how necessary faculty improvement and overall operational duties are running at each institution. The need for a consistently qualified faculty was a major contributor.

“To ensure we can continue to offer quality public higher education, we must continue to invest in our institutions,” Chancellor Hank Huckaby said on the University System of Georgia website. “We have carefully assessed the tuition rates for our institutions to make sure we are balancing the increasing costs of providing public higher education while keeping tuition and fees as affordable as possible.”

Georgia Southern University representatives have officially stated that the 2.5 percent increase will result in approximately $64 per semester for full time students.

“There is a delicate balance between ensuring our students have access to a world-class education enabling them to compete in an ever-changing workforce while keeping the investment in their education as affordable as possible,” Georgia Southern University said in an official statement.