ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The cost of getting a bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Florida could go up by about $2,000 if school leaders approve a proposed 15 percent tuition increase.
UCF’s Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote Thursday on the hike, which, if approved, would raise the four-year cost of earning a bachelor’s degree from about $12,000 to more than $14,000.
University officials told WFTV reporter Lori Brown that the tuition increase is necessary because the state Legislature just slashed UCF’s budget by nearly $53 million. They said the Legislature has cut UCF’s budget in half over the past five years.
If the tuition increase is not approved, UCF says it will be forced to cut classes.
A 15 percent hike would mean parents like LaChelle Reece, whose daughter was recently accepted to UCF, will be paying about $500 more per year.
“I'd rather see the tuition increase,’’ Reece said. “It is important for the students to take the classes they need."
Reece added that UCF’s tuition is still more affordable when compared with another college she considered sending her daughter to.
“A tuition increase at this school would not affect our decision to send her here," Reece said.
But for students like Jordan Allen, who is already enrolled at UCF, the tuition increase is likely to mean more debt.
“We are the future,’’ Allen said. “It's unfortunate you want to hurt the future.’’
The latest increase would make UCF’s tuition 75 percent higher than it was five years ago, before the state started cutting the university’s budget.
Former Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty is on the UCF Board of Trustees and said Wednesday he is still deciding whether he will vote for the increase.
“This is a major issue for the citizens of Florida,’’ Crotty said, adding that he thinks the Legislature’s cuts to higher education are a bad move.
“We have a governor who talks about job creation. I would submit to you that there is nothing more important to job creation than having an educated workforce,’’ Crotty said.