Tuition at the University of Central Florida could spike 15 percent this fall if state leaders grant UCF’s request for the hike.
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All 11 state schools making up Florida’s State University System have asked for the maximum 15 percent annual hike allowed by state law — the figure represents the sum of actual tuition hikes approved by the Legislature, plus the newly conceived “differential tuition” universities request its Board of Governors to add on top of it, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
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Differential tuition is not covered by Bright Futures scholarships, leaving many students — and their parents — to carry a bigger burden on their backs than ever before during these tough economic times.
According to May 14 numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the tuition hike and shift from Bright Futures coverage comes at a time when Florida’s unemployment rate is at 12 percent, the highest in at least 20 years.
If the hikes are approved by Florida’s Board of Governors, tuition would increase to about $4,600 a year from $4,000, based on 15 credit hours, the Sentinel reported. The numbers would vary slightly between schools.
The plan is for UCF — along with UF, FSU, FAU, USF and other state schools — to continue hiking tuition each year until it hits the national average, which was $7,000 annually, according to data last obtained by the Sentinel. Because much of that hike would be from the “differential tuition,” a 75 percent Bright Futures scholarship would come nowhere near covering 75 percent of the cost of education anymore.
KnightNews.com has been covering how UCF has been in a very tight spot, with millions in cuts coming from Tallahassee. Last Summer, the university was forced to slash entire degree programs and professor jobs to save $4.6 million.
Depending on when you enrolled in school, you may be exempt from portions of differential tuition. A portion of the revenue generated from it goes toward providing need-based aid.
In the past, UCF administrators have argued tuition hikes are needed to provide a quality education.
But the question many students have: Will everyone still be able to afford it?
The Board of Governors is reportedly expected to approve the request, as it has been pushing for tuition hikes as part of its strategy to increase funding for state universities.
In spring, students protested against budget cuts from Tallahassee.
UCF is depending on the tuition hikes to go through to stay afloat, according to a May 20 update from outgoing UCF Provost Terry Hickey.
“In fact, our five-year budget plan depends on continued tuition-driven budget increases to replace our current dependence on nonrecurring [federal stimulus] funds,” Hickey wrote.
Hickey also pointed out, “Unlike the past two years, UCF is facing a relatively modest one percent reduction in our 2010-11 state funding. Fortunately, projected tuition increases will make up for this most recent $2.4 million reduction in state funding.”
He admitted, however, “UCF is still struggling to recover from $77 million in budget cuts that began in July 2007.”
Hickey also complained that “differential tuition funds are more restrictive than state money,” because 30 percent has to go toward need-based aid, and “70 percent of differential tuition has to be spent on activities that directly support undergraduate education.”
Read the full letter from UCF’s Provost on the NEXT PAGE by clicking the link below.
