No College Tuition Hikes for Second Straight Year

The first fiscal year budget for Eastern Florida State College includes no tuition hikes for students, the second year in a row without an increase.

The budget, which was approved Monday by the Board of Trustees, goes into effect July 1, the same day that Brevard Community College changes its name to Eastern Florida.

The change is the result of the college starting to offer Bachelor’s Degrees, with the first two programs launching in August and another eight four-year tracks scheduled for August 2014.

The $74.2 million budget for fiscal year 2013-14 fully funds those and all other approved academic programs, keeping the college firmly on track during its transformation, said President Dr. Jim Richey.

“This budget positions us very well as we expand our academic mission,” said Richey. “It’s a very realistic step in the right direction considering the college lost a net $2.4 million from last year’s state appropriations.”

Tuition will remain $78.84 per credit hour for Florida residents.

Student fees that help fund services such as Wi-Fi, student government and clubs, financial aid and capital improvements will inch up from $23.16 to $25.16, helping pay for critically needed building maintenance and repair.

That will bring total in-state tuition and student fee costs to $104 per credit hour, which is the second lowest rate among state colleges in Central Florida.

It will cost students $130.70 per credit hour for Bachelor’s Degree courses, which is similar to costs at other institutions in the 28-member Florida College System.

“With no tuition increase per credit hour, students will save $870,000 in additional costs that could have been levied upon them” if not for Gov. Rick Scott’s veto of a 3 percent tuition hike approved by state lawmakers, said Richey.

He also noted the two straight years of no tuition increases correspond to his time as president, and follow consecutive hikes the four previous years starting in 2008.

Richey said that reflects his commitment “to making certain that Eastern Florida is affordable for students to get the education they need to succeed.”

The budget also includes:
• A 1.5 percent salary increase for all non-probationary full-time faculty members as part of the collective bargaining agreement with the United Faculty of Florida Brevard Chapter.
• No pay increases for other college employees.
• No increase in health insurance costs to employees, saving them $588,000.
• A one-time grant to Brevard County Public Schools as an investment in continuing the dual enrollment program, of which Eastern Florida is the state leader.