State: Plan at UF may grow

TALLAHASSEE - The University of Florida's controversial request to charge its undergraduates an extra $500 each semester has morphed into a push for a tiered system that would boost tuition not only at UF, but also at the University of South Florida and Florida State University.

Under a bipartisan proposal that has House support and is headed to the Senate floor, the three schools could charge undergraduates between 30 and 40 percent more than the base tuition rate now charged by all 11 state universities.

In-state undergraduates currently pay $73.71 per credit hour - or about $2,210 for two semesters - whether they attend a nationally recognized flagship like UF or a small institution like New College of Florida.

Florida's in-state undergraduate tuition ranks at the bottom compared with other states. In a recent survey of 75 flagship public institutions' tuition and fees, FSU fell to No. 74 and UF was ranked No. 75.

Yet year after year, lawmakers resist universities' requests for higher tuition. They typically approve hikes of just a few percentage points each year.

When a final Senate committee cleared the bill Tuesday, lawmakers turned a significant corner in addressing universities' budget needs, said state university system chancellor Mark Rosenberg.

Even though the governor has vowed to veto anything that raises the cost of attending college in Florida, passage in both chambers would be a landmark in the state's approach to higher education.

"There is the recognition here that the universities have been starved for too long," Rosenberg said. "There's a recognition for the fact that we have to move past a one-size-fits-all system."

The proposal approved Tuesday by Sen. Evelyn Lynn's higher education appropriations committee would allow the boards of trustees at USF, FSU and UF to establish differential tuition starting in the fall.

UF and FSU could charge up to 40 percent more than the base state tuition, as long as tuition increased no more than 15 percent from one year to the next. USF could charge 30 percent more.

According to an early estimate by the board that oversees state universities, UF and FSU could each raise an additional $1.3-million the first year of differential tuition, and USF could generate about $1-million. That's assuming that base tuition goes up statewide by 5 percent, as proposed by the House and Senate, and that the three universities charge an additional 10 percent more in differential tuition.

By 2010, UF and FSU could bring in an additional $25-million, and USF could see an additional $20-million.

"Different universities have different missions," said Lynn, R-Ormond Beach. "For those doing extensive research, which can help the state economy by the way, we're saying, 'You might have to pay more.' It's the beginning of a very sound educational policy."

The differential tuition would apply to incoming undergraduates starting in the fall, not students currently enrolled. Families who already have contracts under the Florida Prepaid Scholarship Program would be exempt, and Florida Prepaid could sell new contracts that cover the differential tuition.

The popular Bright Futures state scholarship program would not cover the extra tuition.

The current House version of the bill would allow only UF to charge undergraduates more. But Rep. David Mealor, R-Lake Mary, vowed Tuesday to work with fellow representatives to match his chamber's bill to the Senate's. He would even like to build in provisions that give the University of Central Florida, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University the opportunity to eventually charge their students more.

"It sends a message that if you reach a certain threshold as a university, we're willing to reward that performance," Mealor said.

This all began earlier this year, with a bill by Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Gainesville, to allow UF to charge incoming undergraduates an extra $500 a semester, starting this coming fall. UF president Bernie Machen estimated it would ultimately raise $37-million a year.

He would use the money to hire an additional 200 instructors and 100 academic advisers as part of his bid to vault UF into the nation's top 10 list of public institutions. He said UF will never join the ranks of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill without smaller classes and more varied course offerings.

Machen shook hands with senators after the 3-1 committee vote, which Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, opposed.

"This is a great bill," said Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate. "I just hope it doesn't get vetoed."

The latest version of the bill could be even less amenable to Gov. Charlie Crist than the original because it would affect far more students.

"Wow, the increases have just bloomed, haven't they?" he said, shaking his head. "Well, I don't like them."

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by Kirt	04/26/07 09:58 AM
So the state wants to raise tuition, but not cover it under Bright Futures? Does the state have any plans to pump money into Financial Aid? Probably not. So the students get screwed. Thanks alot Florida Legislature.

by Zach	04/26/07 02:28 AM
I graduated from UF in 06. 95% of UF students receive Bright Futures, with most receiving 100%. Berkeley students here pay $7799 a year....$1000 a year is a small price to pay, and a Florida grad should be able to make $4k more after they graduate.

by Dan	04/26/07 12:41 AM
Don't give me that crap that we want better and more professors, etc. Why do we have to compete against other schools. A crock...it's been too high for years...Unless you're a rich right winger...what about us commomn folks ??

by Tom	04/25/07 08:10 PM
College? You'll find lots of college graduates at the mall folding clothes for $7/hr, while others in their age group who went to tech schools or are self-employed make $40 or more per hour.

by John	04/25/07 07:11 PM
i believe that a raise in tuition would discourage incoming undergraduates with bright futurs from attending because of the extra cost to them. They applied for the scholarship because they dont have the money to attend and can't afford the difference

by Joe	04/25/07 05:43 PM
To disagree with raising tuition to a reasonable amount, is downright Unamerican! These schools are bursting at the seems with all the Community College kids who are transfering in...

by Recent Grad	04/25/07 03:57 PM
Right now, UF is dirt cheap for the quality of education one recieves. what you may not know is that UF is in desparate need of advisors, many classes are not offered because they cannot afford to & CLAS is Broke. so trust me $500 is not a lot.

by Fred	04/25/07 03:40 PM
The middle class gets smacked again. We make too much to get aide but not enough to pay for the increasing expense of going to college. What is the point of Bright Futures if the 100% award does not actually pay 100%?

by Cheryl	04/25/07 02:13 PM
USF has consistent raised its tuition every year since I started 4 years ago. If I'm going to pay more than I expect better instructors and programs from USlessF.

by Brittany	04/25/07 02:12 PM
Both my husband and I work full-time and attend school part-time. I attend a private graduate school and he is transferring to USF in one year. We pay for our schooling. I wish that the state would think about the actual wallets this effects. MINE.

by Lee	04/25/07 02:05 PM
It pains me to see my alma mater, UF, pushing a plan that would place them out of reach to middle class students, or burden them with year upon year of crushing loans. But the people who make the decisions are rich, so what do they care.

by Sandy	04/25/07 12:46 PM
This is a very bad idea for the common student...public university, right

by Mark	04/25/07 12:24 PM
Over 300,000 students in Spain receive an intense public education (equal to that in the U.S.) for about 1000 ò0ACuros each semester. Soon students are going to outsource their education, like I'm doing. I say this increase is ridiculous.

by Tom	04/25/07 11:59 AM
Florida should imitate Virginia and push its long-established universities to raise enough endowment to become independent of the state treasury. Raising tuition is much easier than raising endowment so university presidents would raise tuition.

by Barbara	04/25/07 11:35 AM
All the universities in Florida need more money, not just these three. We need to start funding education for our future. Especially so we can get rid of the idiots that run the State!

by James	04/25/07 11:12 AM
UNC is $5033 a year, Berkeley is $7799, while UF charges $3200. To be a great public school, UF has to charge more. What really bothers me is that the governor just shakes his head not offering any constructive reason why he opposes the increase.

by Amber	04/25/07 08:27 AM
I get the need to differentiate tuition rates among the various public institutions in FL, but $500 add'l/ semester?! That's a far stretch. I understand that UF wants to be a top 10 school, but does it really need an extra 37 mil/yr to achieve that??

by Dylan	04/25/07 08:19 AM
This country will soon be filled with a lot of uneducated people. These colleges are pricing themselves out of the market. I guess you have to be rich to get an education now a days...

by Kate	04/25/07 08:15 AM
These schools are recruiting professors and students from out of state and out of the country. Will we be paying to move these professors here? How about paying the out of country students to come to our schools in this state? Use the money for U.S.?

by Bob	04/25/07 08:07 AM
My son is a freshman at UF. We are thrilled with him being a Gator and believe that UF is one of the most underpriced bargains in education. Our family supports a modest phased-in tuition increase.