Postsecondary education; tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities; expand definition of approved school

The definition of 'approved school' was completely rewritten to include new criteria about university systems, state ownership, and accreditation status, including provisions for institutions with candidate or previously held accreditation.

Accreditation requirements were changed from requiring Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation to also accepting Higher Learning Commission accreditation for nursing programs, and added provisions for institutions with pending or previously held accreditation.

The criteria for proprietary institutions were updated to require Level VI accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The date for when institutions must have been located in Georgia changed from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2021 for proprietary institutions, and from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025 for nursing programs.

A new requirement was added for nursing programs to have a National Council Licensure Examination four-year average passage rate of at least 80 percent.

The bill now explicitly states that approved schools under the new definition shall not be eligible for HOPE scholarships and grants, dual enrollment programs, or other scholarship, loan, or grant programs in the article.