The economy makes graduate school the smart choice for more people.

This year an added incentive for some local students looking at UTC... a 75 percent break in tuition.

This comes as Georgia's Board of Regents announces its doubling special fees to help make up for state budget cuts.

Michael GaIyon, "I'm checking out the psychology school."

Even with a bachelors degree, Michael Galyon finds himself weighing his options.

UTC Graduate school appears to be winning, especially with the new regional rate for students like him.

Galyon, "I think it's brilliant. I don't know why they didn't do it earlier. Seems like it would help out everyone. It kind of sucks to live 20 minutes from the school and get screwed out of tons of money."

Starting this Spring out of state students from North Georgia and Jackson County, Alabama pay only a quarter of the tuition.

Stephanie Bellar, Interim Dean of UTC Graduate School, "That's a 75 percent discount which is, you know, fairly substantial for grad students who tend to be adult students. Often times they're going to school part time and they work full time."

Here and across the country graduate programs see a 5 percent or higher increase in enrollment as a growing number of people turn to education to get an edge...in areas like medicine, criminal justice, business and education

Craig Carpenter, "I know that the job market is incredibly difficult to even get noticed by anybody and the Masters definitely helps to get noticed."

Meanwhile in Georgia, colleges struggle to make up for state budget cuts...doubling special fees to between 50 and 100 dollars more.

It might provide added incentive for students like Michael Galyon to cross state lines.

Galyon, "I heard good things. They have a bigger psychology program than I was expecting actually so I'm pretty excited. Plus with the tuition rate lowering it definitely sounds like a good option."

UTC offered regional tuition to juniors and seniors in a pilot program this fall.

School leaders call it a huge success and expect the same with the graduate program.