Students attending Ogeechee Technical College, and 24 other Georgia technical colleges, will have to dig deeper into their pockets next semester to pay for more tuition and fees.
To cope with cuts in state funding, the Technical College System of Georgia approved last week a 13 percent increase to tuition costs — the first time such a move has been made after the start of an academic year.
Students will pay an additional $10 per credit hour — $85 per credit hour in all — beginning in January next year.
As a result, students who take a full 15-credit course load will pay $1,275 for one semester’s tuition — $150 more than they pay now.
And, the hike in tuition is not all.
The Technical College System board approved a new $50 institutional fee for next semester, and a $50 fee for online courses that will begin in fall 2013.
System Commissioner Ron Jackson said increased costs are necessary for a system that stands to lose $9.9 million in state funding this fiscal year, and $9.9 million next year, because of Gov. Nathan Deal’s directive that state agencies cut spending by 3 percent.
“A tuition and fee increase was made necessary by the rising expenses to deliver our programs and lower state appropriations,” Jackson said in a news release. “A state technical college education remains an excellent value compared to the cost, yet we fully understand the impact that any additional expense has on our students.”
The changes will affect more than 2,000 students expected to attend Ogeechee Tech in the upcoming semester.
“While we are certainly aware of the implications for our students regarding an increase in tuition, we feel that Ogeechee Technical College is still one of the best education values around,” said Dr. Dawn Cartee, the college president in a statement. “We do not like having to raise tuition, but if that’s what it takes to still offer the programs and services necessary to educate our workforce, that’s what we have to do.”
Ryan Foley, the college’s vice president for student affairs, the college has already implemented assistance programs in anticipation of tuition hikes and to help offset reductions in HOPE scholarship monies.
Ogeechee Tech began offering loans to students this fall, he said.
“With the changes to HOPE, and the general challenge of affording an education, we felt offering more options for funding their education was a good thing for our students,” Foley said.  “In addition to HOPE, Pell and scholarships, students may now apply for various federal student loans when they have no other reasonable option.” 
This year marks the fifth consecutive in which the state has told departments to come up with additional budget reductions.
“We have done our best to be efficient with our funds and, because of that, Ogeechee Tech has managed to avoid layoffs and other drastic measures which have befallen some technical colleges in the state,” Cartee said. “Our students will still find great opportunities with the training they receive at Ogeechee Tech, making the investment in their education a very tangible investment in their future success.”

Jeff Harrison may be reached at (912) 489-9454.