Despite an annual limit cap of 15 percent, tuition in Florida's public univerisites increased 60 percent during academic years 2009 to 2012. The bill Scott vetoed Friday would have removed the preexisting limit on tuition hikes, allowing both the University of Florida and Florida State University to raise costs at a higher rate.
While moving forward on budget cuts to the state's universities, Scott has insisted he "does not believe in tuition hikes."
"It is also clear how difficult it is for our students, and in many cases, their families, to afford the costs of higher education," Scott said in a statement accompanying his veto Friday. "I have strong concerns for the debt burden on our students and the number of graduates struggling to find jobs within their fields of study."
Each public institution's board of trustees decides how much to increase tuition each year, with the state's Board of Governors having the final say. Florida's universities lobbied to remove that 15 percent cap. Upon Scott's veto, representatives for UF and FSU said they were "saddened."
Florida is not alone in limiting how state universities may increase tuition while cutting funding at the same time.
Some states limit tuition increases to inflation, while others set a capped rate that public universities must abide by.
Here are five other examples of states trying to limit tuition increases:
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University Of North Carolina
The <a href="http://reesenews.org/2011/10/27/unc-could-up-in-state-tuition-by-more-than-30-percent-next-year/25099/" target="_hplink">University of North Carolina</a> system is limited to 6.5 percent. However, the <a href="http://www.ncjustice.org/?q=node/1336" target="_hplink">UNC system in the state sustained a $682.2 million budget cut</a> in 2011.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UNC_location_seal.JPG" target="_hplink">HangingCurve</a>
Texas
Texas passed a<a href="http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/politics/entries/2009/06/01/resolution_urges_regents_to_li.html" target="_hplink"> non-binding resolution in 2009</a> challenging the public universities not to increase tuition <a href="http://timesoftexas.com/2012/03/30/university-explores-potential-tuition-increases/" target="_hplink">beyond 3.95 percent</a>. Even without it being a legal requirement, the state's public universities have tried to adhere to the rule as the "will of the legislature."
Photo Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elmcreek67.jpg" target="_hplink">Shane Torgerson</a>
Missouri
Missouri's public colleges are<a href="http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x1456423715/Nixon-Mo-schools-should-avoid-big-tuition-hikes" target="_hplink"> limited to tuition increases</a> corresponding to the Consumer Price Index. Gov. Jay Nixon <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2012/04/04/mo_senate_budget_plan_spares_education_from_cuts/" target="_hplink">proposed a $106 million cut</a> to public colleges and universities this year. The legislature rejected Nixon's proposal, however, and opted to keep higher ed funding flat-lined for next year.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mizzou_TigerPlazaFountain.jpg" target="_hplink">Yassie</a>
Iowa
It never became law, but<a href="http://americanindependent.com/166579/university-leaders-warn-education-cuts-may-have-dire-consequences" target="_hplink"> in 2011</a> and 2012, the<a href="http://www.radioiowa.com/2012/03/21/house-panel-votes-to-freeze-tuition-at-u-of-i-isu-uni-audio/" target="_hplink"> Iowa House advanced bills to limit tuition increases</a> while simultaneously voting to <a href="http://iowaindependent.com/50809/economist-iowa-gop-proposed-higher-education-cuts-are-bizarre" target="_hplink">cut funding</a>.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UNI_Campanile.JPG" target="_hplink">Madmaxmarchhare</a>
Ohio
Ohio's <a href="http://www.osu.edu/tuitionplan/" target="_hplink">public universities lobbied</a> for the state to remove <a href="http://www.osu.edu/tuitionplan/" target="_hplink">limits on tuition hikes</a>, but they have little to show for it. The state colleges continued to <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/04/20/OU-tuition-increase.html" target="_hplink">increase tuition for the 2012-13 year</a> by 3.5 percent at <a href="http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/middletown-news/miami-boosts-tuition-for-2012-13-1367163.html" target="_hplink">Miami University</a>, Ohio University, <a href="http://www.ohio.com/news/local-news/kent-state-student-stages-protest-1.293630" target="_hplink">Kent State University</a> and the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2012/03/26/university-of-cincinnati-trustees-to.html" target="_hplink">University of Cincinnati</a>. Why 3.5 percent? Because that's what the <a href="http://www.ohio.com/news/ua-to-increase-tuition-by-3-5-1.179890" target="_hplink">state limits on tuition hikes</a>. However, Gov. John Kasich <a href="http://thenewpolitical.com/2011/03/16/kasichs-budget-good-for-higher-ed-bad-for-local-governments/" target="_hplink">only proposed cutting state support </a>for higher ed by less than 3 percent.
Photo Credit: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OU_Gateway.JPG" target="_hplink">Ed!</a>
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After approving a $300 million cut to Florida's public universities in earlier April, thus cutting public higher education state funding for the fifth year in a row, Governor Rick Scott vetoed legisla...
After approving a $300 million cut to Florida's public universities in earlier April, thus cutting public higher education state funding for the fifth year in a row, Governor Rick Scott vetoed legisla...
I guess cost cutting never enters the discussion. Why do the universities need to raise spending much faster than inflation? Why not cut spending at any university that does not graduate 50% of the entering freshmen within five years. Why not find ways to produce better quality college graduates instead of just more college graduates?
superdestroyer: I guess cost cutting never enters the discussion. Why do
Remind me how much did Gov Scott cut his own staff, salary and money funneled into his office? I am sure it was substantial...and the legislators must have surely done the same?
wulfpjoke: Remind me how much did Gov Scott cut his own
Rick Scott is Florida's biggest error since old people voted for Pat Buchanan (instead of Kerry) by mistake. It seams that the man is doing his best to hurt the people of his own state. I sure hope that they neither forget nor forgive Scott for what he is doing to them.
DarkReaction: Rick Scott is Florida's biggest error since old people voted
Chancellor recommends increasing instate tuition. University of California Berkeley (UCB) Chancellor Robert J Birgeneau is outspoken on why elite public universities should charge more. With Birgeneau’s leadership flagship UCB is more expensive (on an all-in-cost) than private Harvard and Yale. Cal. is the most expensive public higher education in our country!
Birgeneau likes to blame the politicians, since they stopped giving him every dollar expected. The Chancellor’s ‘charge more’ instate tuition skyrocketed fees by an average 14% per year from 2006 to 2011-12 academic year. If Birgeneau had allowed fees to rise at the same rate of inflation over the past 10 years they would still be in reach of most middle income students. Increasing funding is not Cal’s solution.
UCB is a public universities created to maximize access to the widest number of instate students at a reasonable cost: mission of diversity and equality of opportunity. Unfortunately Birgeneau’s ‘charge more’ instate tuition diminishes the equality and inclusion principles which underlie our state and country. Birgeneau’s and Provost George Breslauer’s senior management ‘charge more’ instate tuition denies middle income Californians the transformative value of university education.
Chancellor Birgeneau’s tenure is a sad unacceptable legacy. University of California Berkeley is now farther and farther out of reach for the sons and daughters of Californians.
Send your opinion: UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu and your Calif. State Senator and Assembly member.
Moravecglobal: Chancellor recommends increasing instate tuition. University of California Berkeley (UCB)
I love how all you wellfare babies hate Rick Scott but have no idea why you hate him. So what if he wants to make goverment employees get tested for drugs, if you work for most big companies you have to get drug test, why shouldn't people who are being paid by the citizens of the state, so goest to wellfare recipients being test who cares, its our money paying for your wellfare why is it so bad to make sure that you are not using that money for drugs which sadly is the case with many wellfare recipients. Rick Scott is the first governor to reform PIP which is being abused/fraud all over the state especially South Florida and is costing us regular people millions in premiums. All liberals can do are personal attacks and that's because you have nothing else to say.
latuyaloca: I love how all you wellfare babies hate Rick Scott
his wife is a major shareholder of a private company that tests for drugs. People who suspect they may come out positive first go to get a "trial run" at these places. His family is profiting from the drug testing deal.
mp83: his wife is a major shareholder of a private company
@mp83...Wrong, he came out a long time and said that any companies that he is involved in would not be allowed to perform the drug tests since its a conflict of interest.
To_Tall_Jones: @mp83...Wrong, he came out a long time and said that
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The Huffington Post | By Tyler Kingkade Posted: 05/ 1/2012 9:42 am Updated: 05/ 1/2012 9:43 am