TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Senate committee has approved a bill that would let Florida's
public universities increase tuition up to 15 percent a year until
it reaches the national average.
Five of the state's largest universities already a limited
tuition option capped at 30 or 40 percent depending on the
school.
The Senate Higher Education Committee unanimously voted for the
bill (SB 762) that expand it to all 11 schools with the higher
national average limit.
Gov. Charlie Crist, business leaders and university officials
say Florida schools need to increase tuition, now among the lowest
in the nation, to maintain and improve quality.
The bill also would earmark 30 percent of the differential
tuition for need-based scholarships.