Students at Emory University receive nearly 10 times more academic support funding than those at some smaller Georgia colleges, according to a new analysis of higher education spending across the state.
💰 Why It Matters: How much your college invests in academic support and student services directly impacts your chances of graduating. Schools spending more money per student consistently show higher graduation rates, giving students at well-funded institutions a significant advantage.
🏫 The Numbers: Emory University leads Georgia with a staggering $28,881 per student on academic support and $16,231 on student services, helping achieve a 92% graduation rate. Meanwhile, Emmanuel University spends just $430 per student on academic support, with only 35% of students graduating.
📊 Between the Lines: The University of Georgia shows an interesting pattern – high academic support spending ($6,883 per student) but relatively low student services investment ($1,930), yet still maintains an impressive 87% graduation rate.
🔍 The Big Picture: The national median spending is $2,933 for academic support and $4,828 for student services. While Georgia’s top institutions exceed these benchmarks significantly, many smaller colleges fall well below, creating a resource gap that may disadvantage thousands of students across the state.
📊 Spending by Colleges in Georgia
Highest Investors in Student Support
Institution Location Academic Support per Student Student Services per Student Graduation Rate Emory University Atlanta $28,881.38 $16,231.00 92% Augusta University Augusta $13,302.90 $2,552.93 49% Agnes Scott College Decatur $10,450.89 $8,992.92 71% Mercer University Macon $6,941.13 $6,784.37 73% University of Georgia Athens $6,883.24 $1,930.00 87%
Lowest Investors in Student Support
| Institution | Location | Academic Support per Student | Student Services per Student | Graduation Rate |
| Emmanuel University | Franklin Springs | $430.05 | $8,732.80 | 35% |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls | $796.51 | $4,401.18 | 46% |
| Shorter University | Rome | $839.70 | $5,769.06 | 37% |
| Point University | West Point | $1,291.90 | $6,020.07 | 40% |
| Truett McConnell University | Cleveland | $1,360.98 | $9,587.52 | 41% |
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
B.T. Clark
B.T. Clark is an award-winning journalist and the Publisher of The Georgia Sun. He has 25 years of experience in journalism and served as Managing Editor of Neighbor Newspapers in metro Atlanta for 15 years and Digital Director at Times-Journal Inc. for 8 years. His work has appeared in several newspapers throughout the state including Neighbor Newspapers, The Cherokee Tribune and The Marietta Daily Journal. He is a Georgia native and a fifth-generation Georgian.
