Go for it!
By Dr. Maria Pouncey
Have you thought about college but think you can’t afford it because of your status? Until July 2014, many students without an immigration status had to pay out-of-state tuition; three times more the amount of residents. The situation changed when Governor Rick Scott signed into law House Bill 851 Postsecondary Education Tuition and Fees: Out-of-State Fee Waiver for Select Florida High School Graduates. House Bill 851 amended section(s.) 1009.26. Florida Statutes (F.S.). Not everyone is eligible but if you qualify based on the following, this is your opportunity to enroll in college!
Who is eligible:
- You must have attended a Florida secondary school for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a Florida high school.
- You must have submitted an admissions application to a Florida College System institution within 24 months (2 years) of your high school graduation; AND
- You must submit an official high school transcript(s) that provides evidence of meeting the criteria above.
The effective date was July 1, 2014; therefore this waiver is applicable for eligible students for terms starting on or after July 1, 2014. The waiver is for all students who meet the eligibility criteria, even students who do not meet legal status for immigration purposes.
All Florida College System institutions are required to provide this waiver. The residency status must still be determined before the waiver is applied and students will still be classified as non-Florida residents for tuition purposes and are not eligible for state financial aid.
It is important to remember that a student MUST apply for admissions to a Florida college within 24 months after high school graduation. Even students who attended a Florida private secondary school for three consecutive years are eligible to receive the waiver.
The waiver may also be applied to online programs and courses if the student participated in a virtual program. Students may enroll using the waiver for the number of credit hours that would equal 110 percent of the total number of required career or college credit hours of the student’s intended degree or certificate program.
If you believe you might qualify for the waiver, please contact your local college admissions department and inquire about your eligibility based on HB 851! Adelante!