CCGA named among most affordable colleges in US
By LAUREN MCDONALD lmcdonald@goldenisles.news
U.S. News and World Report recently named College of Coastal Georgia one of the most affordable four-year institutions in the country.
After examining nearly 300 schools nationally, U.S. News and World Report found that CCGA charges the second most economical amount in tuition and fees for any public baccalaureate granting institution in the U.S. for the 2016-2017 school year.
“Our mission here at Coastal Georgia is to ensure that our students have access to a wide array of high-quality, affordable learning opportunities that are unencumbered by increasing expenses and debilitating debt,” said CCGA President Greg Aloia. “And I believe we are succeeding in doing just that.”
In-state tuition and fees at four-year schools in the U.S. range from slightly more than $4,150 to more than $18,500 annually, according to U.S. News and World Report.
At CCGA, tuition and fees are set at $4,434 for full-time students from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama.
The college has implemented several initiatives to help students save. Those include reducing the cost of textbooks, lowering student fees and streamlining graduation requirements.
“Making college opportunities affordable is at the heart of Coastal Georgia’s mission, but ensuring that students are inspired to learn and achieve in ways that change the course of future generations is deeply rooted in its approaches to instructional excellence,” said Tracy Pellett, provost and vice president for academic affairs at CCGA.
Aloia said the administration at CCGA works hard to ensure students have access to an affordable education.
“Every day we are doing things that are helping our students be successful and, in turn, helping our community prosper,” he said. “The successful launch of these initiatives has made CCGA a more viable option for those looking to take advantage of in-state tuition, but it has also made the College a leader across the state in helping to reduce the cost of going to college.”
This is the third time CCGA has been recognized for a distinction by the U.S. News and World Report this school year.
Last September, the college was named one of the Best Regional Public Colleges in the South, ranking seventh among all public state and regional colleges in 12 southern states. And in January, the college was named one of the top 10 low-cost online baccalaureate programs for out-of-state students.
“While our commitment to affordability is paramount, our focus on academic quality and student success is second to none,” Pellett said. “CCGA is the type of educational setting where professors know the names of their students and work with them through applied activities and experiences to develop real-world skills and employability.”