University of Florida Block Tuition Fact Sheet
Definition of Block Tuition:  UF defines full time as an undergraduate student enrolled for 12 or more credit hours during a semester in the academic year.  In 2009-2010, the average academic load of full time undergraduates was 14.1 credits at UF. In order to graduate from a standard 120 credit hour degree program in eight semesters, a student needs to complete an average of 15 credits per semester. This is considered a standard academic load as recognized by the President’s Honor Roll and represents 4-5 courses per semester.  Beginning in the Fall 2012 semester, full time undergraduate students enrolled in statefunded academic programs will be billed for tuition and fees at the rate of 15 credits for Fall and Spring Semester.  The fees included in the Block Tuition are the Student Financial Aid fee, Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee, Building fee, Health fee, Athletic fee, Activity and Service fee, Transportation Access fee, and Technology fee. In addition, non-residents are charged the following: Non-Resident Student Financial Aid Fee.  Other fees that may apply to individual courses will be billed to the student on either a per-credit-hour basis or per-course basis, as is our current practice, such as Materials and Supplies fees (per-course), Distance Education fees (per-credit-hour), and Equipment Use fees (per-credit-hour). Benefits of Block Tuition:  Block Tuition will serve as an incentive to raise the academic load of undergraduates from the current average of 14.1 credits, thereby improving the four-year graduation rate and increasing the number of students graduating on time. Block Tuition will also encourage improved access to UF undergraduate education for more high school graduates and transfer students, and will increase efficient utilization of resources and facilities.  Graduation rates for UF freshmen are 58% in four years, 79.6% in five years, and 82% in six years. While they are very respectable by national standards, there is room for continued improvement. Block Tuition encourages improvement in the graduation rate in two ways: o Students interested in accelerating their progress by taking more than 15 credit hours in a semester will no longer have to incur charges for the extra tuition and fees but will receive a discount in their educational cost as they will be charged the same flat fee for their academic program. o Students who wish to pursue their education at a slower pace may do so, but will pay a higher rate to occupy a UF seat for a longer period of time, since it reduces access for other citizens in Florida.  Block Tuition will also provide a more predictable revenue stream to the university.  The projected increased tuition revenues will be $4.628M, which will be used to provide additional seats in courses, faculty, and advisors. This money would be used to hire a mixture of tenure-track faculty, lecturers, adjunct faculty, and advisors to meet student needs.

 

Increased revenue derived from associated fees will be devoted to the purposes prescribed by statute for each fee. Block Tuition simplifies understanding and administration of tuition and fee charges and student financial aid. A full time student will receive one bill for tuition and fees. As the student adjusts his/her academic schedule, there will be no need to make adjustments in the bill, provided the student remains full time.

Example: (in state rate, per semester, Fall and Spring) 12 credits at Fall 2010 rate 15 credits at Fall 2010 rate 18 credits at Fall 2010 rate

Current Policy $2,017.80 $2,522.25 $3,026.70

Block Tuition

$2,522.25 $2,522.25 $2,522.25

Payment to Student from Bright Futures $1,500 $1,875 $2,250

Net charge to students $1,022.25 $647.25 $272.25

Relationship to Need-Based Financial Aid:  UF has administered need-based student financial aid on a block basis for several years; it is calculated under the assumption that students are taking 15 credit hours per term.  Students taking fewer than 15 credits receive a benefit under this policy. Students taking more than 15 credits have the opportunity to have their financial aid package reviewed in light of their heavier load. Miscellaneous:  Block Tuition was used at UF until 1974 and all other AAU universities use this model.  UF will honor Prepaid Tuition contracts in effect prior to Fall 2011 by billing these students for required tuition and fees on a per-credit-hour basis.  As is current policy, undergraduate students are defined to be part time if they take 11 or fewer hours. They will be billed for tuition and fees on a per-credit-hour basis.  The Block Tuition policy applies only in the Fall and Spring terms. Undergraduate students attending a summer session will be billed on a per-credit-hour basis.  This policy does not apply to enrollment in courses and degree programs offered through the Division of Continuing Education.  As is current policy, a full time undergraduate enrolling in a graduate course will be required to pay additionally the difference between the tuition cost for a graduate course and the tuition cost for a corresponding undergraduate course.  Appropriate accommodations will be made to this policy for students having a documented disability or medical condition, as determined by the Office of the Dean of Students.