24% of undergraduate students at GICA independent colleges are over age 25. Georgia's independent colleges educate many of the State's "adult learners." Georgia's independent, not-for-profit colleges are committed to providing access to all of Georgia's students.
Georgia Independent College Association (GICA) member institutions educate Georgia's adult learners. Nearly a quarter of undergraduate students enrolled at GICA member colleges are aged 25 or older.
The Georgia Independent College Association member institutions enroll a diverse population of students. More than half of the student body defines their race as other than "white."
The Federal Pell Grant program provides need-based aid to low-income undergraduate students to promote access to postsecondary education. An even greater percentage of students at Georgia's private colleges receive Pell compared to those at USG public institutions. Indeed, 46% of students attending GICA member independent colleges and universities are eligible and receive Pell.
GICA institutions raise substantial scholarship and grant dollars each year in order to assist students. Institutional aid does not include any federal or state aid. Institutional aid is raised from corporations, foundations and private donors.
I am so grateful to receive the Tuition Equalization Grant. I can honestly say that I don't think going to college would be possible without it. Money is hard to come by, and TEG is necessary for me to successfully complete and graduate from college in order to excel in life.
TEG helps me attend college. In this tough economy, even a difference of a few hundred dollars could reduce my chances of a college education. I depend on PELL, TEG, and work-study to help me fund my college education.
Technical college students can more easily and seamlessly transfer credits to private colleges under an agreement signed recently between 19 member colleges in the Georgia Independent College Association and the 25 Technical College System of Georgia institutions. The agreement will facilitate college completion throughout the state.
State-funded tuition assistance for Georgia residents attending qualified private colleges rose to its highest level in 2009. Since then, tuition aid has fallen from $1,200 annually to $700 (FY 2013). If the $6 million cut in the House version of the FY 2014 budget holds, the TEG will be back at the 1978 level of $500 per student, per year.
GICA member institutions partner with the State to increase college completion rates to ensure that Georgia remains competivive in workforce and economic development. As of 2012, fewer than 34% of Georgia residents have attained an Associate's (two-year) degree or higher.
Georgia's independent, not-for-profit colleges effectively partner with the State to increase college completion rates and create a more educated Georgia.
Nearly 8% of US students attended more than one institution during 2010-2011 Academic Year. GICA member institutions work with students to make the transition to a private college a seamless process so students can graduate in a timely manner.
GICA member institutions understand the importance of increasing diversity among science, technology, engineering, and mathematics professionals. In 2009, GICA member colleges and universities awareded a greater percentage of thier STEM degrees to female and African American students.
19 GICA member institutions are Yellow Ribbon Program participants which provides additional funding to eligible veterans and their families in order to make a quality education affordable.
More than ever, Georgia students need tuition aid. The number of PELL Grant recipients (Federal need-based grant aid) rises at independent colleges.
GICA member institutions partner with the State to graduate more minority students. Proportionately, while GICA member colleges and universities enroll approximately 14% of African American undergraduates, they conferred more than 24% of Bachelor's degrees awarded to African Americans.
GICA member institutions partner with the State to create a more educated workforce. GICA member institutions granted a significant share of the degrees awarded in 2010-2011.
GICA member institutions awrded more than $77 million dollars in 2010-2011 to first-time, full-time students in the form of institutional grant aid.
In 2010-2011, GICA member colleges and universities conferred 784 bachelor's degrees, nearly 1,200 master's degrees, and 39 doctoral degrees in the field of Education. Georgia's independent colleges and universities partner with the State to prepare tomorrow's teachers who provide quality education to Georgia's students.
When a police raid on local massage parlors exposed sex trafficking close to home, Hannah Vann and her classmates knew the victims needed help fast. With the community's support, the student-led Sex Trafficking Opposition Project (STOP) hosted a national conference and launched a registered 501(c)3.