The Senate Study Committee on Higher Education Affordability has unanimously approved its final report, outlining recommendations aimed at reducing the cost of higher education in Georgia. The committee, led by Sen. Nan Orrock (D–Atlanta), was established through Senate Resolution 474 during the 2025 Legislative Session to examine ways to make college more affordable for residents.
Over a five-month period, the committee gathered input from educators, students, and leaders in education about the financial challenges faced by those seeking higher education. Testimony revealed that Georgia lacks needs-based aid programs found in other states and discussed how such a program could be implemented locally.
“The purpose of this committee was to confront this major part of Georgia’s affordability crisis and evaluate how we can lift these unnecessary burdens off the backs of countless Georgia families,” said Sen. Orrock. “Over the past few months, we heard from students, families and employers across Georgia, all in agreement that higher education has become too expensive.
Georgia carries the second-highest student loan debt burden in the nation, and we are one of only two states in the nation that still do not offer a robust need-based aid program. Every Georgia student who wants to pursue higher education should have the opportunity to do so, and our state has the means to make that a reality.
With the tireless efforts of our students and our education leaders in mind, I am proud to present these recommendations. If enacted, they will reopen the American dream for hundreds of thousands of Georgia families and ensure higher education remains an accessible pathway to opportunity in our state.”
The report recommends creating and funding a strong need-based financial aid program designed to help low-income students access and complete postsecondary education. It also calls for expanding workforce development initiatives and maintaining effective student-support programs to address employer demands for skilled workers.
The full report is available on the Georgia General Assembly website.
Sen. Nan Orrock serves as Minority Caucus Secretary for District 36, which covers part of Fulton County.
