For the third consecutive year, Dalton State College has been named among the nation’s most affordable four-year colleges by the U.S. Department of Education.
The College is named among the top 10 percent of four-year schools for lowest tuition and fees and also for lowest net price which is, according to the DOE, the average price of attendance that is paid by full-time students after grants and scholarships are taken into account.
“With so much information out there, it’s important that students and their families are equipped with the tools they need to make informed decisions about where to go to college,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, in releasing the report. “Everyone has a role to play in keeping college affordable, and these lists help consumers compare the costs of higher education institutions.”
The lists are based upon data collected during the 2011-2012 Integrated Postsecondary Education System data collection cycle, the most recent data that have undergone the full National Center for Education Statistics data review process. The College Affordability and Transparency List was introduced in 2011 by the Department of Education.
Dalton State’s annual tuition and required fees of $3,622 compared very favorably to the national average of $7,135. The College’s net price of attendance of $3,776 compares to the national average of $10,863. According to the DOE, net price is calculated by subtracting the amount of financial aid received from the total cost of attendance which includes tuition and fees in addition to books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses, such as transportation.
“We are delighted that Dalton State appears on the affordability lists yet again, demonstrating that a Dalton State education remains a great value,” said Dr. John Schwenn, President of Dalton State. “We know that our affordability is a key reason students choose Dalton State. Low tuition and fees make college education accessible to more Georgians. We work hard to keep a Dalton State education within the economic grasp of most families.”
“What’s even more gratifying is that in addition to our low cost, we have high quality programs that are recognized throughout the state and the nation,” he said. “We have an outstanding faculty that is committed to helping our students reach the next level, and in fact we’re home to Dr. Christy Price, the Carnegie Foundation’s 2012 U.S. Professor of the Year. Our School of Education was named 2012 Distinguished Program in Teacher Education by the Georgia Association of Teacher Educators. We’ve just received re-accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and many of our professional Schools are accredited by prestigious organizations such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Council of Social Work Accreditation.
“I am personally convinced that you cannot get a better value on a college education anywhere in the world,” he said.