More than 21,000 students at 15 private colleges and universities in Florida could lose access to the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) Grant under the Florida House of Representatives’ proposed budget, according to the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF).
The EASE Grant currently provides $3,500 annually to eligible undergraduates attending qualified, nonprofit private institutions across the state.
The House budget plan, which will go to a vote on Wednesday, would tie grant eligibility to a set of performance metrics. These include a minimum 54% graduation rate, a 67% first-year retention rate, and a set of affordability criteria. If approved, the proposal would disqualify half of the ICUF’s 30-member institutions, including high-profile schools such as the University of Miami, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Keiser University.
Catholic institutions like Barry University and St. Thomas University, as well as Florida’s three historically Black colleges — Florida Memorial University, Edward Waters College, and Bethune-Cookman University — would also be affected.
Bob Boyd, president of ICUF, warned that the proposed changes would undermine access to higher education for thousands of Floridians.
“The purpose of EASE was to create access for students to go into our institutions, because the public schools can’t serve every student in Florida, and they can’t produce every degree that Florida needs,” Boyd said.
The grant program has supported student choice in higher education since its creation in 1979. Boyd noted that the proposed House budget would slash the EASE award by $76 million.
“What people in Florida may not know is that, like in K-12 where we have school choice, we have higher ed choice,” Boyd said. “Since 1979, the EASE voucher has helped Florida residents attend a private, nonprofit college. But in the House budget, they’ve cut this award by $76 million — affecting 22,000 students.”
Boyd emphasized the importance of ICUF institutions in training professionals in critical sectors.
“ICUF schools produce about 30% of Florida’s nurses,” he said. “We already have pilot, nursing, and teacher shortages. Cutting this funding means we risk losing future professionals in exactly the areas where Florida needs them most.”
He also pointed out the grant’s cost-effectiveness: “The return on investment is tremendous. Florida only spends $3,500 per student — much less than what the state spends per student in the public university system — to produce high-demand degrees.”
While the House budget includes these deep cuts, the Florida Senate has not proposed similar reductions. With both chambers expected to pass their respective budgets this week, formal negotiations on the final state budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 are set to begin.
“We’re hoping the House comes back around,” Boyd said. “This isn’t just about education — it’s about the future of Florida’s workforce.”
