- Feb 26
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2026
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Senate Democrats Applaud Historic Financial Aid Funding For Georgia College Students
Atlanta, GA — Senate Democrats applaud the restoration of the $325 million commitment in the budget to fund Georgia’s first needs-based financial aid program.
Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) has long championed the creation of a needs-based financial aid program. Last summer, Senator Orrock chaired a Study Group on College Affordability that issued a report strongly recommending that Georgia create a broad financial aid program to assist students otherwise unable to afford the cost of a college education.
“Over the past half-century, the cost of college has risen far faster than family incomes and created an insurmountable barrier for too many Georgians. While the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships have opened doors for thousands of students by supporting tuition costs, a college degree should not come at the cost of a mountain of debt,” Senator Orrock said. “Many Georgia students have the ability and ambition to earn a diploma, but lack the resources to do so. That’s why I worked to bring Democrats and Republicans together to secure this funding. Needs-based financial aid enables students to pursue their dreams. Education fuels opportunity and when we invest in students, we all win.”
About Needs-Based Financial Aid:
Georgia is a national outlier in providing needs-based financial aid for college students, as 48 states already invest in this type of program. College costs have increased by more than 150% since 2000 with the average price reaching almost $25,000 in 2020. The National College Attainment Network found that less than a quarter of 4-year public universities are affordable. Georgia has the second-highest student loan debt in the country.
Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta), a vocal advocate for providing a needs-based scholarship for Georgia students, chaired a Senate Study Committee that met several times in 2025 to study college affordability. Sen. Orrock’s committee suggested $120 million in annual funding would assist roughly 99,000 Georgia students annually in pursuing higher education degrees.
In January 2026, Governor Kemp announced $325 million to launch a needs-based financial aid program. After Senate Republicans recommended reducing the allocation to $100 million, the House-Senate Conference Committee restored the full $325 million to the program in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget which awaits the Governor’s signature.
Senator Nan Orrock is available for comment.
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