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Higher education in Florida is an ever-changing landscape in the sunshine state. Championing its affordability and performance-based funding model, institutions in Florida are rightly proud of the gains they have made around enrollment and student success. However, many fear that higher education in Florida is set for a downturn. Controversial legislation recently passed in the state, banning colleges and universities spending money on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D&I) programs, can be seen to challenge student success initiatives within Florida.
See below for the key enrollment trends that we predict in Florida:
More Students Will Try to Major in STEM
Florida Legislature enacted “The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver” in 2021, which provides a tuition break for students majoring in one of the eight chosen STEM majors at a public Florida postsecondary institution.
Some welcome the initiative as a way of incentivizing students to study these challenging courses that are necessary for the future workforce. Others fear for the impact it will have on enrollment in the Liberal Arts, particularly at private universities, and argue the legislation is biased towards men.
STEM courses are notorious for being alienating environments for women and people of color. Given that this initiative has not come with any additional funding for the universities, Florida public institutions will need to find cost-effective ways to foster belonging and create peer support networks for all STEM students. Without additional student success initiatives in place, Florida public universities are likely to witness a decline in persistence and time-to-graduation rates in these programs. The first two years of STEM degree pathways are often heavily focused on math and science-based curriculum and can pose academic and emotional stress to students pursuing those fields. Measures to ensure students receive appropriate advising and wellbeing services to support their journey will be critical to avoiding attrition.
Florida Faces Challenges in Attracting More Out-of-State Students
Florida has introduced an incentive to attract high-achieving out-of-state students who have grandparents living in Florida. Select students are now eligible to receive a waiver of their out-of-state fees. This scheme could prove attractive to out-of-state students who are looking for affordable ways to study in the sunshine state.
On the other hand, cheaper tuition may not be enough to attract significant numbers of out-of-state students. Many fear the ramifications of the recent legislation and the impact it will have on campus climate, especially for African American students, students of color and LGBTQ+ students. As a consequence we may also see more Floridians looking to study outside of their home state.
Graduate Student Enrollment will Continue to Rise in the Sunshine State
Contrary to national trends, Florida has seen a steady increase in graduate enrollment in the last five years. From 2021 to 2022 graduate enrollment held steady, and overall Florida has seen increases in the number of graduate students attending higher education post-COVID. Given the state’s relatively affordable tuition costs for undergraduate and graduate tuition, it is likely that this trend will continue.
First-generation college students face challenges in enrolling, navigating the hidden curriculum and graduating from higher education. These challenges persist into post-graduate education, with fewer first-generation college students enrolling and persisting with advanced degrees. To attract and retain more graduate students, Florida institutions should invest in their social infrastructure and support systems for graduate students.
Watch the webinar or read the case study to learn how Florida Atlantic University is driving strategic enrollment management