Navigating Tuition Waivers in Florida: A Comprehensive Guide
Florida offers a variety of tuition waivers designed to make higher education more accessible and affordable for specific student populations. These waivers, authorized by Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulations, can significantly reduce or eliminate tuition and fee costs for eligible individuals. This article provides a detailed overview of the different types of tuition waivers available in Florida, outlining eligibility requirements, application processes, and key considerations for prospective students.
Understanding Tuition Waivers
A tuition waiver is a program that allows certain students to have all or a portion of their tuition and fees waived at a Florida College System institution, state university, or school district that provides workforce education programs. These waivers are designed to support specific groups, such as veterans, active-duty military personnel, foster care alumni, state employees, and students in strategic academic programs.
General Requirements and Application Process
To be considered for a tuition waiver, students must generally meet specific eligibility criteria and submit a waiver application along with any required supporting documentation. It's important to note that tuition waivers are typically applied by the last day to pay for each term/session. The Student Financials Office does not provide waivers for application fees.
Degree-seeking students should register for courses on their assigned appointment time available on their MyFIU portal. Non-degree seeking, certificate, and transient students must register on the date appropriate for their program.
After enrolling in the semester, eligible teachers should submit their completed waiver and verification of employment online through MyFIU. Follow steps to Submit Forms Online and select "Student Financials" as the department.
Read also: Eligibility for DCF Tuition Assistance in FL
Types of Tuition Waivers in Florida
1. Foster Care and Homeless Students Tuition and Fee Exemption
Overview:
Florida Statute 1009.25(1)(c) provides a tuition and fee exemption for students who were involved in shelter, dependency, or termination of parental rights proceedings. This includes students who were in out-of-home care, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative, placed in a guardianship by the court, or reunited with their parents after spending time in out-of-home care.
Eligibility:
A student is eligible for the fee exemption if they meet one of the following conditions:
- Were in out-of-home care at the time they reached 18 years of age.
- Were in the custody of a relative or nonrelative pursuant to ss. 39.5085 or 39.6225, F.S., at the time they reached 18 years of age.
- After spending at least six months in the custody of DCF after reaching 16 years of age, were placed in a guardianship by the court.
- After reaching 14 years of age and spending at least 18 months in out-of-home care, were reunited with their parent or parents who were the subject of the dependency proceeding before reaching 18 years of age. The student must be Pell Grant-eligible, and the entity imposing the tuition and fees must verify such eligibility.
- Were adopted from DCF after May 5, 1997.
- Were placed in a permanent guardianship, regardless of whether the caregiver participates in the Relative Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085, F.S., and remain in such guardianship until the student either reaches 18 years of age or enrolls in an eligible institution before reaching 18 years of age.
- Meet the definition of homeless children and youths in s. s. 11434a(2).
Benefits:
The exemption covers tuition and all additional fees, including lab, material and supply, and auxiliary fees. The exemption remains valid until the student reaches 28 years of age.
2. Military and Veterans Waivers
Florida offers several tuition waivers to support military personnel and veterans pursuing higher education.
Congressman C.W. "Bill" Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Program
Overview:
Pursuant to F.S. 1009.26 (13), this program allows FIU to waive out-of-state fees for honorably discharged veterans of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Reserve Forces, or the National Guard who physically reside in Florida while enrolled in the institution. It also applies to those entitled to and using educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for a quarter, semester, or term beginning after July 1, 2015, who physically reside in Florida while enrolled in the institution. Tuition and fees charged to a student who qualifies for the out-of-state fee waiver under this subsection may not exceed the tuition and fees charged to a resident student.
Read also: Tuition at Loyola University Maryland
Eligibility:
- Honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the United States Reserve Forces, or the National Guard who physically resides in Florida while enrolled in the institution
- Entitled to and uses educational assistance provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for a quarter, semester, or term beginning after July 1, 2015, who physically resides in Florida while enrolled in the institution
Benefits:
Out-of-state fees are waived, and tuition and fees charged to eligible students may not exceed the tuition and fees charged to a resident student.
Veteran Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
Overview:
This waiver is available to spouses and dependents of veterans who physically reside in Florida and are using Veterans benefits for the term that the waiver is requested. If your entitlement has ran out or you are not using the Veterans benefits, you will not be eligible for the out-of-state waiver.
Eligibility:
- Spouses and dependents of veterans who physically reside in the state of Florida and are using Veterans benefits for the term that the waiver is requested.
- Classified as non-Florida residents for tuition purposes as per Florida Statute 1009.21.
Benefits:
Out-of-state tuition fees are waived.
Purple Heart and Other Combat Decoration Waiver
Overview:
This waiver is for any student who is a recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence which was awarded for valor. (FL Board of Governors Regulation 7.008-12).
Eligibility:
- Recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence which was awarded for valor.
- The recipient must currently be or was at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of a Military Honor, a Florida resident.
Benefits:
This waiver covers tuition and all additional fees, including lab, material and supply, and auxiliary fees, for up to 110% of required credit hours throughout one's undergraduate career.
Read also: Affording ECU
Online Free Seat Waiver
Overview:
The Online Free Seat Program was created by the Florida Legislature to encourage veterans, active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces, active drilling members of the Florida National Guard, and nontraditional students who have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree to enroll in an online baccalaureate degree program.
Eligibility:
- Is a veteran as defined in s. 1.01(14), F.S.;
- Is an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces;
- Is an active drilling member of the Florida National Guard, whose eligibility MUST be validated by the service member’s unit Commander and/or the Commander’s designated representative serving as the Unit Point of Contact (additional verification form must be submitted every term);
- Is a nontraditional student, defined for the purposes of this program as a student who has earned a Florida standard high school diploma, a high school diploma comparable to a Florida standard high school diploma, or its equivalent, or completed a home education program, and has been out of high school or home education program for at least 5 years. A nontraditional student must not have been enrolled in a postsecondary institution in the last 5 years.
Benefits:
Tuition and fees are waived for eligible online baccalaureate degree programs.
3. State Employee Tuition Waiver
Overview:
The State Employee Tuition Waiver provides State of Florida employees the opportunity to take up to six hours of coursework per academic term at a significant discount. The program was established per F.S.
Eligibility:
- Employees must be currently employed by the State of Florida in a budgeted authorized position of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch.
- Employees participating in the State Employee Waiver are also eligible to receive financial aid.
Benefits:
The State Employee Tuition Waiver covers up to 6 credit hours per semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer). The waiver is limited to academic courses.
4. Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
General Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
Overview:
Pursuant to section 1009.26 (12)(a), Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 7.008(m), FIU is authorized to waive the out-of-state fee for students who meet the required criteria.
Eligibility:
Effective July 1, 2025, a student must be a citizen of the United States or lawfully present in the United States to qualify for the Non-Resident Tuition Waiver.
Citizens must submit:Current, valid, and unexpired immigration documents (for example: permanent resident card, or other immigration category documents such as official documentation from USCIS or a valid visa document) each semester. Each case is reviewed and assessed individually.
To be eligible for the out-of-state fee waiver, the provided documentation must be valid and unexpired through the end of term for which the waiver is applied.
Benefits:
Out-of-state tuition fees are waived.
High School Graduate Non-Resident Tuition Waiver
Overview:
Effective July 1, 2014, House Bill 851 amended s.1009.26, Florida States, Fee Waivers, to authorize an out-of-state fee waiver for select students who attended a high school in Florida.
Eligibility:
- Have attended a Florida high school for three consecutive years immediately prior to graduation from a Florida high school.
- Submitted an official high school transcript providing evidence of high school attendance and graduation.
- Submitted an admissions application to a Florida College System or State University System institution within 24 months of graduation.
Benefits:
Out-of-state tuition fees are waived.
Grandparent Waiver
Overview:
Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the state university Grandparent Waiver was created by the Florida Legislature to allow a limited number of out-of-state students with a grandparent who is a legal Florida resident as defined in the Florida Statutes to attend a state university and have non-resident fees waived.
5. Select Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver (STEM)
Overview:
Pursuant to F.S. 1009.26 and Board of Governors Rule 7.008, this waiver is available for students enrolled in a Baccalaureate Program of Strategic Emphasis. In July 2025, the Board of Governors updated how the waiver is applied. Under the updated guidelines, the waiver will cover 50% of out-of-pocket tuition and fees for eligible upper-division courses.
Eligibility:
- Are classified as in-state for tuition purposes.
- Have earned at least 60 semester credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution.
- Are accepted and enrolled in a primary major/degree in one of the Programs of Strategic Emphasis as designated by the Board of Governors of the State of Florida. These are: Computer and Information Sciences, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and Management Information Systems.
- Are enrolled in 3000 and/or 4000 level classes leading to the major degree as noted above.
- Have not previously earned a bachelor's degree.
- Be in good academic standing (not warning, probation, or dismissal).
Benefits:
The waiver will cover 50% of the out-of-pocket tuition and fees for all eligible upper-division courses after your gift aid is applied.
6. Classroom Teacher Waiver Program
Overview:
The Classroom Teacher Waiver Program covers in-state tuition up to 6 credit hours. This waiver can only apply to undergraduate courses in the areas of Special Education, Math or Science that have been approved by the Department of Education. The list of approved course prefixes are attached to the waiver form.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to use a Classroom Teacher Waiver (PDF) at FIU, the student must submit a letter of verification on school district letterhead stating full-time teaching status.
Restrictions:
- The waiver cannot be used for courses scheduled during the school district’s regular school schedule.
- Courses must be taken for a grade; they may not be taken as audit.
- The waiver is for the current term of registration only.
- All students are required to meet the course prerequisite requirements.
- The waiver can only apply to courses the student indicates on the approval form.
7. Other Fee Exemptions
Dual Enrollment/Early Admission
Students enrolled in a dual enrollment or early admission program pursuant to s. 1007.271 are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees.
Apprenticeship Program
A student enrolled in an approved apprenticeship program, as defined in s. 446.021, is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees.
Welfare Transition Program
A student enrolled in an employment and training program under the welfare transition program is exempt from the payment of tuition and fees. The local workforce development board shall pay the state university, Florida College System institution, or school district for costs incurred for welfare transition program participants.
Lake Apopka Buyout Impact
A student who is a proprietor, owner, or worker of a company whose business has been at least 50 percent negatively financially impacted by the buyout of property around Lake Apopka by the State of Florida may receive a fee exemption.
Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel
Pursuant to s. 402.403, child protection and child welfare personnel as defined in s. 402.402 who are enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in social work program, provided that the student attains at least a grade of “B” in all courses for which tuition and fees are exempted.
Senior Citizen Waivers
Persons 60 years of age or older who meet Florida Residency requirements may register only to audit classes without payment of tuition and application fees as defined in the FL Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(4) Fee Waivers. Registration is on a space-available basis and occurs on the last day of regular registration, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar for each term.
Important Considerations
- Gift Aid: The Select Programs of Strategic Emphasis waiver will not be applied if a student's tuition and fees are or will be covered/waived by any other statutory waiver.
- 110% Credit Hour Limitation: The Select Programs of Strategic Emphasis waiver is only available for up to 110% of the required credits hours of the eligible undergraduate degree program for which the student is enrolled.
- Residency: Receipt of the out-of-state fee waiver does NOT constitute classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. Students who receive this waiver remain classified as non-Florida residents for tuition purposes and are NOT eligible for state financial aid.
- Deadlines: The deadline to submit Fall 2025 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver requests is Friday, August 29th, 2025.
- Changes in Law: Due to recent changes in state law, the STEM waiver is now applied as payor of last resort.
- Waiver limitations: Waivers will not be retroactively applied to previous semesters/years.
Where to Find More Information
- Community Based Care Agency: If you know your local Community Based Care Agency, feel free to reach out to them directly, here’s a map and contact information.
- Adoption Information Center: If you were adopted please reach out to the Adoption Information Center, they can also answer any questions you have about adoption-specific benefits and post-adoption services!
- OneStop Center: Contact the OneStop Center, located in MMC: SASC, 1st Floor; or BBC: AC1 100, to assist you in claiming residency for tuition purposes.
- Financial Aid Office: Any waiver a student gets will be added to their Financial Aid package. This paperwork must be turned in on time. If the waiver is not shown in the student’s Financial Aid package before aid is sent out, the student must tell the Financial Aid Office.
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