Boost EASE to cut costs, expand opportunity

Florida does a great job of keeping higher education affordable. Our state has the lowest public student tuition in the U.S., which is one of the reasons we were named the #1 state for higher education by U.S. News & World Report … for the 10th consecutive year. However, that achievement comes at a substantial hidden cost to the Florida taxpayer.

According to an efficiency study just released from the Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida (ICUF), Florida pays $15,129 per student annually to subsidize in-state tuition at public universities. In other words, the student only pays a fraction of their tuition; Florida taxpayers cover the rest, many of whom aren’t in college and don’t have family members in college.

But what if we could change that math? What if we could put more students through college, at a lower cost to Floridians? As it turns out, we can. Through the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant, Florida subsidizes equivalent degrees at private, nonprofit institutions at a cost of just $3,500 per student.

You read that right: We are paying 4.3 times more to deliver the same degrees, accredited under the same standards, at public colleges compared to private ones. And that sum only covers tuition – not facilities, operation and maintenance, salaries, or athletics, all of which are privately paid at independent colleges, but covered by Florida taxpayers at public institutions.

Supporting higher education is important, and that’s exactly why we should allocate funding where it can do the most good. EASE is a perfect example: It’s a proven, cost-effective model that educates students at a lower cost to Florida taxpayers, while producing the highly skilled nurses, teachers, engineers and pilots our communities need.

Financial assistance covers more than the cost of tuition and books. It covers peace of mind, the freedom to focus on classes without worries, and opportunities for students to explore hands-on learning in their field through internships and networking. In turn, that translates to better academic performance, higher graduation rates, and the “soft skills” necessary for real-world success.

When Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune founded Bethune-Cookman University, she envisioned it as a place where generations could rise beyond their circumstances and into their calling. That spirit is still at the heart of our school, where many of our students are first-generation scholars. Investing in programs like EASE is a way of opening the door further – forging pathways for students to grow, achieve and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.

Florida should supercharge EASE, not cut it back. Private institutions have proven their value to students, communities, and Florida taxpayers. By making smart choices about how we invest in higher education, we can fuel achievement and cultivate generations of talent … and we can do it at a fraction of the cost.

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Dr. Albert D. Mosley is the eighth president of Bethune-Cookman University, bringing more than three decades of experience in higher education leadership, teaching and institutional advancement to Daytona Beach.