A student walks past the campus green at Kennesaw State University. Lawmakers hope to lower the costs of attending Georgia’s public universities, but the cost of living remains high as inflation rises.

120,000 Georgia high school students will receive near-direct admission to a Georgia public university through a new program.

Credit: Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Gov. Brian Kemp announced a new admissions program for Georgia public colleges on Thursday. The program, called Georgia Match, aims to reach Georgia high school students who may not have considered going to college. 

Over 120,000 high school seniors will receive a letter from colleges telling them that they are guaranteed a spot based on their current grades. Students will then claim their spot through a streamlined admissions process. 

The state's three most selective schools, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia and Georgia College, will not be part of the program, but the remaining 23 public universities are participating. Georgia's 22 technical colleges are also included. 

The announcement comes after a push for more workforce education opportunities for Georgia's growing economic presence. Over 38,000 new jobs were created in the Peach State in the most recent fiscal year, according to Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. Kemp added that an additional 16,000 jobs are expected to be created this year. 

"The question is, how do we sustain that incredible growth?" Kemp said. "And that is by growing a workforce ready to meet that demand — not just for today or next year, but for the next five, 10, 20 years."

The first students will receive their letters Oct. 10. 

Tags: Georgia  Education  higher education  workforce  Georgia Politics