Florida bans undocumented students from enrolling in state universities
Key Points(5)
- Undocumented students will be barred from enrolling in Florida’s public universities beginning in the 2027-28 academic year under a new rule unanimously approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors on Thursday.
- The 17-member board voted to amend its general admissions regulation to prohibit people who are unlawfully present in the United States from initially enrolling at state universities.
- “Beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, a person who is present in the United States unlawfully shall not be eligible for initial enrollment in any state university,” the amended regulation states.
- The restriction applies to universities that did not admit all academically qualified applicants during the previous two academic years.
- Florida’s State University System comprises 12 public universities, including Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University and the University of Florida.
Undocumented students will be barred from enrolling in Florida’s public universities beginning in the 2027-28 academic year under a new rule unanimously approved by the State University System of Florida Board of Governors on Thursday.
The 17-member board voted to amend its general admissions regulation to prohibit people who are unlawfully present in the United States from initially enrolling at state universities.
“Beginning with the 2027-28 academic year, a person who is present in the United States unlawfully shall not be eligible for initial enrollment in any state university,” the amended regulation states.
The restriction applies to universities that did not admit all academically qualified applicants during the previous two academic years.
Florida’s State University System comprises 12 public universities, including Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida State University and the University of Florida.
The measure was approved without discussion as part of the board’s consent agenda following approximately 15 minutes of public comment.
Students already enrolled at Florida universities will not be affected by the new restriction, which applies to people seeking initial enrollment beginning with the 2027-28 academic year.
The decision follows a similar move affecting Florida’s state colleges.
On June 30, the State Board of Education approved a rule barring undocumented immigrants from enrolling in adult education programs, including programs leading to a high school equivalency diploma, as well as Florida’s 28 state colleges.
The higher education restrictions come amid broader efforts by Florida officials to limit access to public programs for undocumented immigrants.
An estimated 60,000 undocumented students are enrolled in higher education across Florida, while approximately 8,000 undocumented students graduate from the state’s high schools each year.
Nearly 1.2 million undocumented immigrants live in Florida, accounting for approximately 5% of the state's population.
The university ban will take effect as Florida's public higher education system prepares for the 2027-28 academic year.
