15 percent tuition increase locked in for Florida’s state universities - LILLY ROCKWELL, News Service of Florida

With Florida university tuition ranked 48th in the nation, administrators argued that the hike is necessary to keep valued faculty members and to prevent larger classes and the elimination of courses. For the third year in a row, undergraduate students at Florida universities will pay 15 percent more in tuition. The governing board for the State University System approved a 7 percent increase in tuition on Thursday. That was on top of an 8 percent tuition increase approved by the Legislature earlier. All members of the Board of Governors voted for the increase except Michael Long, the student representative from New College, who voted against the increase for Florida Gulf Coast University and the University of North Florida. Long said he was reflecting earlier votes by student body presidents at those schools.