An interview with Larry Bracken, PJC’s executive director of government relations.
What is the percentage increase in tuition at PJC?
The increase, as set by the Florida Legislature in the state budget for all 28 community colleges, is 8 percent. The increase for all 11 universities is 15 percent. The old rule of thumb in the Florida Legislature was 25 percent of the cost of education from student tuition and 75 percent from state revenue. Over the past several years that policy has changed, and it is now about 32 percent from student tuition and 68 percent from the state. And going up! In most states it is closer to 50 or 60 percent.
When did the Board of Trustees approve the tuition increase?
This was approved at the June Board of Trustees meeting, as part of the approval of the annual budget for the college, which included the legislatively mandated 8 percent increase.
Did the Trustees really have a choice? If they had not raised tuition, how much money would PJC have lost?
The Board had a choice, but failure to stay at the maximum would actually cost PJC (including students) whatever percentage that tuition does not increase, in funds for everything from faculty salaries, to the electric bill for lights in classrooms to student activities. And the reduction would be included in next year’s budget as well. The Florida Legislature expects colleges and universities to collect all funds for which they are authorized.
What is the reason for PJC’s funding crisis?
The same as it is for all 28 colleges, all 11 universities and all 67 school districts: the lack of funds available at the state level, due to the decline in the national and state economy. All states are facing the same problem. Florida has a thin state tax base, basically sales tax and documentary stamp taxes on real estate transactions. Sales are down, real estate sales have been falling, so there is less state revenue to be appropriated.
Is PJC’s tuition really the lowest in the state among public colleges?
I have never heard that. All 28 community and state colleges have basically the same tuition (within pennies).
How much is tuition per credit hour at Northwest Florida State College (Niceville), Troy State University, and UWF?
Northwest Florida and PJC are exactly the same in tuition, except that NFSC can charge more for its baccalaureate programs. Troy State is NOT a Florida college; it is an Alabama College that operates as a private college in Florida. You should look at private for-profit colleges in our area…about four times PJC tuition! I do not know UWF’s exact tuition, but the universities received latitude from the Florida Legislature to go up 15 percent.
Is tuition likely to go up again next year?
Yes! And the year after that! And the year after that! Florida has the lowest community college and university tuition in the Southeast and almost in the nation. The Legislature wants the state to move to the mid-level of national college and university tuition levels. Florida is a cheap tuition state!
This answer does not help PJC students who are paying tuition, but it is the truth, and the Florida Legislature has embarked upon a policy to raise tuition to the mid-range of national tuition levels.
Do Florida college students pay more or less tuition on average than students in other states?
They pay far, far less than [students pay] public institutions in other states. In some cases, out-of-state students can come to Florida, pay out-of-state tuition and still go cheaper than staying home.
What can students do to lessen the blow of increased tuition?
Make sure that you apply for all financial aid available. Students should always apply for PELL, for various state financial assistance programs and for scholarships, available at PJC and from many other private sources. And they should do it at least three months prior to the beginning of the semester.
And students should take all the courses they can, as soon as they can, and get an associate degree or certificate and graduate! The longer you stay in college, the more it is going to cost you! Tuition will continue to go up!
What about other costs?
Fees also continue to go up. The Legislature put into place a new 5 percent technology fee this year for all colleges and universities. [The fee will help to pay for new technology, upgrades, and more computers.]
The cost of textbooks continue to increase, despite the passage two years ago of the Textbook Affordability Bill that seeks to control the cost of books. But, in reality, costs are controlled by big textbook publishers, and they are corporate entities. Textbooks always go up!
The best thing any student (at PJC, at the University of Florida, at the University of Hawaii!) can do is to take higher education seriously: Get in, get out, get a degree, move on into real life. Then you can worry about the cost of your children’s higher education.
