In a bid to prioritize local students, a new proposal aims to significantly reduce the number of out-of-state students at Florida’s leading public universities. The initiative, spearheaded by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Jonsson, suggests a cap, limiting out-of-state students to just 5% of the total enrollment at major institutions such as Florida International University, Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida, and the University of South Florida.
Currently, the University of Florida, the state’s top-ranked institution, has an out-of-state student population close to 20%. If passed, Jonsson’s bill, HB 1279, would enforce that 95% of first-year undergraduate enrollments in the fall at these universities must be Florida residents. This would be calculated based on a three-year average, with potential financial consequences for universities that fail to comply.
“Right now, too many seats go to out-of-state students while Floridians with the same or better performance metrics are overlooked,” Jonsson stated, reflecting the concerns of many parents about their children’s prospects in Florida’s competitive academic environment. Her legislative proposal aims to “put Florida’s students first.”
Despite the potential benefits for local students, there are financial implications. Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, pointed out that out-of-state students contribute more in tuition fees, and reducing their numbers could impact university budgets negatively. “It sounds like it would be a negative fiscal impact to them,” Driskell commented, questioning how the shortfall in revenue would be addressed.
Jonsson acknowledged that the universities could face a collective loss of $54 million in the first year of implementing the cap. However, she argued that this amount is relatively small compared to the $17.5 billion these institutions receive from the state. “I think we should be able to find a way to work that out, and I think the universities should be able to figure out a way to work that out,” she remarked, emphasizing the substantial financial support the universities already receive from the state.
The University of Central Florida could see a first-year loss of $3 million, with further losses as the cap phases in over four years. The financial impact could deepen for other universities as well, as they adjust to the new enrollment guidelines.
Florida universities typically charge higher tuition fees for out-of-state students, with several increasing these fees recently to boost their revenue. For instance, UCF charges out-of-state students $22,482 in tuition compared to the $5,954 for in-state students.
Currently, out-of-state enrollment is capped at 10% across the state’s 12 public universities, calculated as an average. This allows more selective schools to enroll a greater number of out-of-state students, provided other universities enroll fewer.
However, Jonsson’s proposal does not yet have a counterpart in the Senate, leaving its future uncertain. Still, she remains optimistic, asserting that “our flagships can remain world-class while putting Floridians first.”
For more details on the proposed legislation, refer to the full article here.
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