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% |
How to Read and Understand the News
Truth doesn’t bend because we dislike it.
Facts don’t vanish when they make us uncomfortable.
Events happen whether we accept them or not.
Good reporting challenges us. The press isn’t choosing sides — it’s relaying what official, verified sources say. Blaming reporters for bad news is like blaming a thermometer for a fever.
Americans have a history of misunderstanding simple things. In the 1980s, A&W rolled out a 1/3-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder. It failed because too many people thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If we can botch basic math, we can certainly misread the news.
Before dismissing a story, ask yourself:
- What evidence backs this?
- Am I reacting to facts or feelings?
- What would change my mind?
- Am I just shooting the messenger?
And one more: Am I assuming bias just because I don’t like the story?
Smart news consumers seek truth, not comfort.
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.
