The University System of Georgia (USG) celebrated Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s signing of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes funding for the DREAMS Scholarship program. This unprecedented state investment creates Georgia’s first statewide need-based aid endowment.

The amended budget lays a strong foundation for helping more students stay enrolled and graduate on time. With its investment in DREAMS, the state is opening the door for more private philanthropic support and multiplying the impact for students.

“Governor Brian Kemp has taken a historic step to expand access, strengthen the workforce and support families in every region with an investment that reflects a bold vision for the state’s future and a deep belief in what Georgia students can achieve,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “The AFY 2026 budget is a strong win for USG overall and reinforces the essential role our institutions play in meeting the state’s workforce and economic needs.”

“With the support of Speaker Jon Burns, Lt. Governor Burt Jones and their legislative colleagues, more students will have the chance to finish their degrees, contribute to their communities and build prosperity across Georgia,” Perdue said. “We’re grateful for the continued support of state leaders and our entire General Assembly, and are proud to help carry this effort forward.”

As budgeted, $300 million will be used to establish the DREAMS Scholarship endowment, which the Georgia Student Finance Commission will administer. An additional $25 million in expendable scholarship funds will be available in Fall 2026 as part of the program, which builds on an effort launched by USG last year to support both USG students and students in the Technical College System of Georgia.

These important steps toward growing sustainable, need‑based aid for students won’t meet every need immediately. Instead, they set a foundation that the state and USG can continue to build on through matching private support.

House Bill 1413, now moving through the General Assembly, will guide the program’s parameters, which are expected to be designed around service and responsibility. Students who receive support will complete a required work or service component such as internships, public service or related experience. Once finalized, that framework will pave the way for implementation, enabling the program to become a long‑term source of opportunity for students across Georgia. 

Keeping tuition and fees affordable remains a priority within USG, but students frequently struggle with expenses that fall outside traditional financial aid formulas. Transportation, books and unexpected costs often determine whether students remain enrolled. This happens even as merit-based programs like Georgia’s groundbreaking HOPE Scholarship remain a national model.

Research shows students who avoid dropping out due to financial setbacks are 3.5 times more likely to graduate. In many cases, just a few hundred dollars can determine whether a student completes their degree. 

The state’s earlier investment in the Georgia College Completion Grant — a $10 million program launched two years ago — demonstrated how targeted financial assistance helps students bridge short-term gaps and persist to graduation, further underscoring the value of strategic need-based aid.

With DREAMS funding included in the Amended FY 2026 budget, USG and its institutions will work to raise matching private funds and build an enduring, statewide support structure that expands opportunity and strengthens Georgia’s workforce for decades to come.