Jasiah Burrows, the eldest of eleven siblings, excelled in high school and was thrilled when he earned a full Bright Futures scholarship. He thought he had the college costs covered.
But soon reality set in: although Bright Futures would pay for 100% of his tuition at the University of South Florida, he was shocked to discover that it was just a fraction of the total cost — money that his family did not have.
As Jasiah learned, the other costs of college — food, housing, and other necessities — comprise the lion’s share of expenses. Fortunately, Jasiah — now a USF student — eventually got the aid he needed, but only after stressing whether college was in reach.
Jasiah is not alone in worrying about the cost of college. Fear of student debt and the ability to pay are the most significant barriers to college access. These fears are not unfounded. More than three-quarters of Florida students who leave college before earning a degree do so for financial reasons. The U.S. Department of Education reported last year that 23% of American undergraduate students faced food insecurity and 8% faced homelessness. Another study found that 56% of college students would struggle to cover an unexpected cost of $500 or more. Too often, money woes derail a college student’s education.
Florida is deservedly proud to be #1 in the country for low college tuition rates and fees. Yet, currently, the state ranks 33rd in the average amount of student debt at the time of college graduation. Lower-income students end up with more debt than their financially better-off peers, putting them further behind on the path to economic mobility.
Fortunately, Florida has solid opportunities to make college affordable for more hardworking students like Jasiah. Strong need-based financial aid programs are key.
First, Florida can expand access to the Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG), Florida’s need-based aid program. Annual funding for FSAG has remained flat since 2017, yet the cost of living has dramatically increased since then. Currently, only 59% of eligible applicants attending a public college or university receive an award, leaving over 39,000 students — 41% of those eligible — without FSAG aid.
Second, Florida can ensure that emergency aid is available to college students facing financial crises. Emergency aid programs, which typically provide one-time help with unexpected expenses under $1,000, are a proven way to help students stay in school and complete their degrees. Yet currently, only three-fourths of Florida’s state universities and half of its state colleges have an emergency aid program.
Third, we can help students cut the cost of college before they even graduate high school by improving access to dual enrollment. Through dual enrollment courses, high school students earn college credit — for free — saving tuition costs and shortening the time it takes to complete a degree. Broad outreach about dual enrollment can increase student and family awareness, helping more students benefit.
With 3.9 million Florida households struggling to afford essential expenses — 45% of the state’s population, according to United Way Florida — education and training beyond high school is more important than ever. The median annual earnings of Floridians with a bachelor’s degree is $58,016, compared to $35,746 for those with no more than a high school diploma.
What’s more, the Florida Council of 100 reports that our state’s economy is moving away from low-wage sectors toward relatively high-wage ones. Indeed, the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s list of the top 30 high-demand careers all require some level of higher education, with 43% requiring a bachelor’s degree.
Investing in need-based financial aid not only benefits students. According to the Helios Education Foundation[1], increasing college enrollment by 10% would generate more than eight billion dollars in state revenue per year, and a 20% increase in college completions would generate more than seven billion dollars in additional revenue.
Need-based student financial aid is one of the best returns on investment there is.
Let’s expand access to such programs to ensure that college costs don’t block talented students like Jasiah from completing their education and contributing to Florida’s future.
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Braulio Colón is co-founder and Executive Director of the Florida College Access Network. With over 20 years of professional experience leading education policy, philanthropy, and community collaborative initiatives, he has guided major investments across Florida toward improving education & career outcomes for students.
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References
- ^ Helios Education Foundation (www.helios.org)