Florida has to win billions by making college affordable for everyone

A growing choir of skeptics asks whether university education is still the “golden ticket” for the American dream. According to a New America survey, more than 70% of the Americans still believe in the value of college. Despite its critics, college remains the way with the promise of the economic mobility of the Americans. The Americans trained on college enjoy a higher life with a lifelong lifestyle one million dollars more than their high school-trained colleague-greater jobs and a better quality of life.

An important factor that is often overlooked in the college value debate is the fact that training in the university is annoying billions in economic advantages for our state. In a report recently displayed by the Helios Education Foundation, it showed that increasing enrollment of universities would generate more than 8.38 billion US dollars more than 8.38 billion. The increase in college by 20% would generate 7.59 billion US dollars. These are billions of dollars for Florida more every year to call the Florida at home every year.

Florida's business world also has an important part in a well -trained workforce. The Florida Council of 100 reports that the diversifying economy in Florida removes low wage sectors to relatively high wage recipients. The top -30 career of the Florida Chamber of Commerce requires university formation, 43% of which have a Bachelor degree.

Florida does a lot of things right to build the workforce of tomorrow. The US News & World Report has had Florida No. 1 in the nation in university education for eight years. One of the first acts of governor Ron Desantis was to give in an order of the executive to give Florida No. 1 in the nation in the upbringing of the workforce. A few years ago, the legislator in Florida set a goal for at least 60% of the Floridian in the work event, to keep a post -secondary conclusion or training experience by 2030. In recent years, our legislature has had a number of guidelines for a recompanying training within the reach of more Floridians, the career shimmers and the degrees for the access to the registrations and at the end of career. have to stop.

These guidelines help to make the needle reach Florida's talent goals. Around 55% of the Floridians of working age are currently organizing certification or a degree after the university degree, a number that has increased steadily in recent years. But not all Floridians make progress at similar prices. For example, the proportion of black Floridians has trends alarming down with post -editor -in -law.

The cost of college is the biggest barrier for students in Florida from households with low and medium incomes. In a recent report by the Florida College Access Network, it showed that the costs for tuition fees, books and fees as part of family income are 17 times higher if students in the lowest 20% chamber holder are the costs for tuition fees, books and fees as part of family income. This does not even take into account the cost of living that makes the lion's share of college costs. In fact, 23% of American students experience nutritional uncertainty and 8% homelessness. So it should not be a surprise that 78% of the students in Florida State College, who assume, did so for financial reasons.

In order to reach Florida's talent goals in Florida, we have to make sure that training outside the high school is within the reach of the Floridians. Florida can help enable this by increasing the investments in the needs aid program in Florida Student Assistance (FSAG), FSAG. For the school year 2022-2023, the financing of the program included only 61% of the authorized applicants who took part in our state universities and universities who received an average payment of USD 1,626. In the private non -profit university institutions in Florida, 89% of the authorized applicants FSAG received grants with an average of $ 1,650. For comparison, Florida's popular Bright Futures program, which is not based on income, financed 100% of the authorized applicants with an average payment of $ 4,995.

The increase in the investment of Florida in the FSAG program would help to ensure that the most strongest disadvantaged students in our state will remain the course, conclude and contribute to the developing economy in Florida. Florida has billions that can be gained from the investment in our students, especially for those for whom costs are the greatest obstacle to achieving a post -secondary references. By investing in our college students, we invest in a better future for all of us.

Braulio Colón is the managing director of Florida College Access Network.

Originally published: March 14, 2025 at 5:30 a.m. Edt