Student Tuition Exemptions

Dual Enrollment/Early Admission

Per Florida Statues, 240.116- The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an eligible secondary student or home education student, in any grades 6 through 12, in a postsecondary course creditable toward high school completion and a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree. Eligible students are admitted to the program based on GPA requirements and placement as outlined in the Dual Enrollment Articulation Agreement, which is required to be reviewed annually, and are exempt from the payment of registration, tuition, and laboratory fees. 

Foster Care YOUTH

Per Florida Statute 1009.25 (c) tuition and fee exemptions are available to students receiving, or formerly receiving, services from the Department of Children's Family Services if they meet the following criteria: 

  • They are or were at the time of reaching 18 years of age, in out-of-home care. 

  • They were adopted by the Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997. 

  • They are, or were at the time of reaching 18 years of age, placed in the custody of a relative or non-relative under s. 39.5085, s. 39.6221, or s. 39.6225, F.S. 

  • They are reunified with their parents after spending at least 18 months in out-of-home care after reaching 14 years of age, including reunification pursuant to s. 39.8155, F.S. 

Homeless Fee Exemption

Per Florida Statute 1009.25 (e) a student who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings are exempt from the payment of registration, matriculation, and laboratory fees. Students must submit the Florida Student Homelessness Verification FSH-1, signed by an agency official, and dated no more than 30 days before their payment due date. 

Linkage Institute

Per Florida Statutes, Chapter 288.8175, Florida linkage institutes’ primary purpose is to assist in the development of stronger economic, cultural, educational, and social ties between this state and strategic foreign countries. Each institute is allowed to exempt from s. 1009.21 up to 25 full-time equivalent students per year from the respective host countries to study in any of the state universities or community colleges in this state as resident students for tuition purposes. 

Purple Heart/Superior Combat Decorations

According to Florida Statute 1009.26 (8) tuition shall be waived for undergraduate college credit programs and career certificate programs for each recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence who: 

  • Is enrolled as a full-time, part-time, or summer-school student in a program that terminates in an associate or a baccalaureate degree, a college credit certificate, or a career certificate.  
  • Is currently, or was at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence, a resident of the state of Florida; and submits to the institution the DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that the student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence. Medals that meet the criteria are: 
    • Purple Heart
    • Medal of Honor
    • Silver Star
    • Bronze Star (must be "V" designation or device)
    • Distinguished Flying Cross
    • Legion of Merit (must be "V" designation or device)
    • Air Force Cross
    • Navy Cross
    • Distinguished Service Cross