All of Florida’s universities will seek to raise tuition for undergraduate students, who will see a total increase of 15 percent next year – the maximum allowed by law.
Universities are technically seeking to raise tuition by only 7 percent, but that’s on top of the 8 percent increase the Legislature ordered. Under a state law passed four years ago, the Legislature can increase tuition and universities are able to tack on their own increases, known as tuition differentials, but the total tuition hike can’t exceed 15 percent.
Although only six out of the 11 state universities have officially sought the extra 7 percent tuition increase, documents filed with the State University System Board of Governors show they all plan to push for the full 7 percent. The Board of Governors will decide next week whether to approve the tuition hike.
If the board approves the 7 percent increase, on average, a student would pay $3,840.47 in tuition for 30 credit hours next year, up from the $3,339.56 average for 30 hours last year. That does not include fees, which can tack on several thousand dollars to a student’s total bill.
For instance, total tuition and fees for next year’s Florida State University students could run $5,237.80 for the year.
If the past is any indication, the board is likely to approve the 7 percent increase. For the past two years, universities and lawmakers have approved tuition increases that, when combined, have reached the full 15 percent, with approval from the Board of Governors.
