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NewsWUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)September 6, 2026Hillsborough

Florida Legislature ties university budgets to out-of-state enrollment caps

The Florida Legislature now requires the Board of Governors to link university funding to a 10% cap on out-of-state student enrollment. Universities that exceed this limit may face restrictions on their ability to increase out-of-state tuition fees and must implement enrollment reduction plans.

higher educationtuitionenrollmentstate budgetuniversity governance
Read the full story at WUSF (NPR Tampa Bay)

Why It Matters

This policy limits the number of non-Florida residents at state universities and ties institutional budgets to these enrollment figures, potentially impacting university rankings and the diversity of the student body.

Key Facts

  • The Florida Legislature passed HB 5601E during a May special session, which includes a 10% system-wide cap on out-of-state student enrollment.
  • Universities that exceed the 10% cap may be denied the ability to increase out-of-state tuition fees.
  • Under the new law, universities that under-project out-of-state enrollment must implement corrective actions, such as enrollment reduction plans.
  • The legislation removed a previous provision that would have capped single-year out-of-state tuition increases at 15%.
  • In 2025, a majority of Florida state universities had an out-of-state student population exceeding 10%.
  • The state provided $8 billion in funding to higher education last year.
  • The University of Florida admitted students from 58 of Florida's 67 counties for the current academic year.
  • Legislators initially considered a stricter 5% cap on out-of-state enrollment for incoming freshmen, but that proposal was not enacted.

Who's Mentioned

personJennifer Kincart Jonsson“Republican Representative from Lakeland”personPeter Collins“Florida State University Board of Trustees Chair”personAdam Hasner“Florida Atlantic University President”personMori Hosseini“University of Florida Board of Trustees Chair”organizationFlorida Board of Governors“Supervises the State University System”personAlan Levine“Board of Governors Chair”