Georgia Case Study 2018

Georgia continues to struggle to meet the challenges of creating the workforce it needs to compete domestically and globally. It’s been six years since IRHE checked in on the state’s progress, and although there are some bright spots, Georgia simply has not been able to create policies and implement plans that significantly move the needle on the state’s higher education attainment. IRHE finds that Georgia’s higher education tuition has doubled since the Great Recession – while the state ranks near the bottom of states in college enrollment.

This report comes weeks before a key Georgia governor election, and calls for the incoming governor to create a state-wide nonpartisan commission that is empowered to make robust recommendations and policy changes – a model Tennessee and Virginia have successfully implemented in recent years. At a time when postsecondary education is more important than ever, Georgia’s higher education policies and priorities are putting up barriers that make it harder for Black, Hispanic and poor Georgians to get a college education.

Georgia must commit to a cohesive state policy agenda that articulates clear goals, provides powerful financial incentives for reaching those goals, and holds state and higher education leaders accountable for reaching them.