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On Thursday, the Florida State University Board of Trustees sanctioned an operating budget of $2.97 billion for the fiscal year 2025-2026, reflecting a 1% decrease from the previous year’s record-setting $3 billion budget. As legislators continue to finalize the state budget, anticipated to be approved next week, the university’s financial plan has yet to incorporate adjustments relevant to FY 2025-2026 state funding levels. Amendments related to the budget will be included once Gov. Ron DeSantis endorses the state budget.

For the last 12 years, Florida State has withheld tuition increases, relying instead on substantial backing from the Florida Legislature to maintain its position as one of the most affordable and high-quality educational institutions in the nation. Noteworthy is that 85.2% of full-time undergraduates received some form of non-loan financial assistance during the academic year 2023-2024.

While the budget does not indicate any new state funding for 2025-2026, it highlights FSU’s dedication to retaining exceptional faculty, staff, and graduate students, bolstering student financial aid offerings, and emphasizing research initiatives amidst ongoing shifts in the federal funding paradigm. Additionally, the advancement of FSU Health continues to be a priority, aiming to improve health outcomes in North Florida and beyond.

The Annual Operating Budget for 2025-2026 is projected to exceed that of 94 foreign nations and allocates $486 million for capital projects. This capital budget encompasses funds for the FSU Academic Health Center in Tallahassee, a new Football Operations Facility, Doak Campbell Stadium, and the College of Business’ Legacy Hall.

According to the FSU Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis, the university’s operating budget contributes an estimated $14.7 billion to local and state economies each year. This estimate comprises approximately $4.8 billion in direct sales revenue and over $197 million in expenditures by out-of-state students, along with $8.77 billion in lifetime earnings by recent FSU graduates, as per the center’s most recent report on the Florida State University System.

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