Gov. Rick Scott is making an innovative proposal that could end tuition hikes.
Scott has proposed charging college students the same tuition rate for four years—starting their freshmen year.
According to Scott’s office, the tuition freeze will theoretically help students finish their degrees in the conventional time span. Scott is calling the proposal “Finish in Four.”
Meghan Moss-Solomon, a junior majoring in business, said the proposal would allow her to budget adequately for the future.
“This would positively affect me because I would be able to plan out my finances for the upcoming years,” Moss-Solomon said.
The idea was in Scott’s proposal for the state budget that he will be sending to the state legislature. Scott said he included the suggestion to end the annual tuition increases that seem to occur.
“When I talk to universities, they know that we’ve got to hold the line on tuition, we’ve got to watch how we’re spending the money,” Scott said in a News Service of Florida article.
Charles Stanisce, a junior majoring in exercise, said the proposal could motivate students to finish their classes in a suitable amount of time.
“Students who aren’t as well off as others can use it as another incentive to not screw up and make sure they pass all of their required classes in the four year period,” Stanisce said.
According to Scott’s office, the tuition freeze will theoretically help students finish their degrees in the conventional time span. Scottis calling the proposal “Finish in Four.”
Scott also “challenged” state colleges to offer at least one degree for at a lower cost at $10,000. The challenge, which was put forth in November, was recently accepted by all 23 state colleges, including Edison State College, offering fou-ryear degrees.
By accepting the challenge, the state colleges, which charge about half as much as public universities, agree to charge about $3,000 less than its than average cost.
If the proposal is approved, universities could extend the freeze for students majoring in degrees that are designated as needing more than four years to complete.