<p>Gov Crist pulls a 180. Here's the link</p>
<p>TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said Wednesday he would allow a controversial bill to pass into law that creates a tiered-tuition hike for incoming undergraduates at Florida's flagship public universities.</p>
<p>The governor met Wednesday with university presidents from around the state and said afterward he was reversing course and would allow the higher tuition "differential" bill to become law with the understanding that the schools wouldn't impose it for another year.</p>
<p>The bill allows an extra 40 percent tuition hike for incoming students at Florida State University and the University of Florida, and a 30 percent fee increase at the University of South Florida.</p>
<p>The $20 million-plus in extra revenues the three schools would each collect through 2010 would allow them to address overcrowding in bachelor's degree programs, they said.Crist said the presidents "would agree not to impose any of it until the fall of '08."</p>
<p>A Florida State graduate, Crist also said he'd prefer for the FSU & UF not to impose a cap on enrollment.</p>
<p>See: <a href="http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs...LNEWS/70627014%5B/url%5D">http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs...LNEWS/70627014</a></p>
<p>I, for one, am surprised. What changed his mind?</p>
<p>I am SO glad my mom did Florida Pre-Paid.</p>
<p>Will Bright Futures cover this?</p>
<p>Also, I know this is off topic, but does Florida Bright Futures work if you go to a private school out of state?</p>
<p>To answer my own question:
"The tuition increase would not be covered by the state's Bright Futures program, which provides all or most of the cost of tuition for about 96 percent of UF freshmen."</p>
<p>But part 2 of my question still remains.</p>
<p>He went to Florida State? Ew. Thats probably the reason I havent been so fond of him, lol.</p>
<p>Yea.....this sucks</p>
<p>Any takers on a prediction for the new in state tuition at UF once this comes into effect</p>
<p>"The legislation would allow UF, FSU and USF to charge up to 40 percent more in tuition above the state's base tuition starting in 2008, provided the increases never exceed **15 percent **from one year to the next."</p>
<p>So given that tuition is currently $3206 for in-state students:
the highest possible 2008 tuition would be 3206 + .15(3206) = $3,687/year
the final tuition cost would be 3206 + .4(3206) = $4,488/year</p>
<p>Another article in the Orlando Sentinel this morning says that the fees will be delayed until 2008, so they won't affect students already enrolled. <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-tuition2807jun28,0,122113.story%5B/url%5D">http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-tuition2807jun28,0,122113.story</a> </p>
<p>"Freshmen and transfer students would be subject to the fee next year, but students who are already enrolled would not."</p>
<p>Orangeandblue, Bright Futures does not cover any school, public or private, that is out of state. </p>
<p>They will however, pay the public school tuition amount towards a private Florida college/university, ex. University of Miami/Stetson/Rollins etc.</p>
<p>Has there been any definitive discussion or decision as to how this tuition hike will be affected or covered by florida pre-paid or bright futures???</p>
<p>The article stated that the tuition hike is covered by florida pre-paid but NOT covered by Bright Futures.</p>
<p>"The tuition increase would not be covered by the state's Bright Futures program, which provides all or most of the cost of tuition for about 96 percent of UF freshmen.
Students in Florida's prepaid program, which allows parents to lock in tuition rates for their children by paying in advance, would be exempt from the hike. Universities could also waive the tuition increase for students of financial need, and UF has indicated it will do so. "</p>
<p>So, does this mean anything to the class of '11 and higher? Because the other article seems to state that it will only affect incoming freshmen/transfers next year... wouldn't that be the class of '12? Just wondering, because I think the tuition hike SUCKS.</p>
<p>I'm not entirely for the tuition increase; even though I'm poor, I'm receiving exactly $0 of need-based aid, and though I have pre-paid in addition to bright futures, I would be quite upset if I learned I would have to come up with additional money.</p>
<p>On the other hand, UF, at least, is quite a good school, and 4,500/year tuition is really very little, especially compare to other universities. So, I understand where this is coming from, and hope the additional money will be used for good. Really, it isn't the tuition money that is the difficult part for most students coming up with college money, it's everything else...room and board and fees and books. At least for me, that is.</p>
<p>You have pre-paid therefore your exempt. </p>
<p>In addition you are on bright futures and therefore are making money going to college. Remember a college degree is an investment in your-self. I have friends at private universities who are over 100k in debt, and only have bachelor degrees.</p>
<p>Um, the fact that you know individuals that are accumulating exorbitant debt is irrelevant. They were not forced to go to private universities in which they knew that they would have difficulty in paying for it. Its their fault, not ours, and therefore should not be used as a criticism for being curious as to some repercussions about a law that will affect us whether we agree with the law or not</p>
<p>Well most of these students had really crappy flagships, and therefore didn't have any other option. If we are not carefull our State might also end up with really crappy flagships, and our best and brightest will leave in droves.</p>
<p>I chose UF over Dartmouth and Cornell due to financial reasons, UF with Bright Futures and Prepaid was just too good an offer to turn down for a high quality education.</p>