FSU board to consider out-of-state fee increase, budget requests for MagLab, FSU Health

With the fall semester approaching and next year's legislation session further down the road, Florida State University is looking to make money moves in preparation for both. 

FSU's Board of Trustees will meet virtually at 9:30 a.m. July 24 to vote on increasing out-of-state fees for students by 10% this fall, and to also consider approving a 2026-2027 legislative budget request – one that asks for $101 million in nonrecurring funds and more. 

As the fall semester begins Aug. 25, the action of increasing out-of-state fees comes as a directive from the Florida Board of Governors, which met June 18 and unanimously voted in support of having universities in the State University System (SUS) increase their out-of-state fees by 10% for fall 2025 and 15% for fall 2026 to be in compliance with state law. 

The out-of-state fees of the public Florida universities have not increased in more than a decade, with some universities not increasing their fees in about 20 years. At FSU, tuition and fees have not changed since fall 2013. 

But with the increase, the out-of-state rate per credit hour for undergraduate students at FSU would increase from $721 to $751 while they would increase from $1,110 to $1,173 for graduate students, according to a university report. Also, the rate for FSU law students would increase from $1,355 to $1,421, and medical students would see an out-of-state fee increase from $32,905 to $36,196.

Other FSU news: Florida Board of Governors, Gov. DeSantis appoint two new members to FSU Board of Trustees

According to a Board of Governors report, out-of-state enrollments in the state for both undergraduate and graduate students have "risen dramatically during this time as students take advantage of Florida's low cost while attending the number one higher education system in the country." 

The University of Florida Board of Trustees on July 23 unanimously approved a 10% increase, the maximum allowed following a ruling on June 18 by the Board of Governors, the Gainesville Sun reported. The increase is effective this fall.

Florida A&M University is not requesting a tuition increase at this time, interim President Timothy Beard told the Tallahassee Democrat in an email on July 23.

"Florida A&M University will request that the Board of Trustees consider a tuition increase for out of state students be implemented for Fall 2026. As we looked at the timing of trying to implement an increase for this upcoming academic year, we did not want to add additional charges to student accounts after plans have already been made by families for the current balances. The request for Fall 2026 will be scheduled for a future BOT meeting yet to be determined."

FSU looking to request millions for FSU Health, MagLab

Regarding FSU's preliminary legislative budget request that will also be considered when the university board meets July 24, it comes just a few weeks after Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a $115 billion Florida spending plan for 2025-2026, which includes nearly $128 million in new funds for FSU.

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Initiatives that FSU continues to request funding for include the Translation Hub for Healthy Aging, Healthspan Research and Digital Health – where a total of $70.5 million in recurring and nonrecurring funds is being requested – while the usual $65 million is being asked to grow national prominence as well as $50 million to bolster FSU Health. 

In addition, this year's nonrecurring funding requests include $10 million for the Florida Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and $56 million to advance breakthroughs in magnetic science and technology, rare earth mineral discovery, quantum science and energy through the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, commonly known as the MagLab. 

How to listen in, comment at FSU board meeting 

• Log on using the link that will be provided on the FSU board's website: https://trustees.fsu.edu/meetings . 

• Public comment for the meeting will be available in person only at the Westcott Building on FSU's campus in room 201 (222 South Copeland Street).

Tarah Jean is the higher education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat, a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida. She can be reached at  tjean@tallahassee.com . Follow her on X:  @tarahjean_ .

(This story was updated to add new information.)

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State trustees will consider out-of-state fee increase