Budget conference: Senate cuts offer for Florida’s preeminent schools in half

USF Football is staying put.

Lawmakers agreed to spend $40 million to reward Florida’s best state universities, which is half the amount of money the Senate was seeking.

The House did budget any preeminence money in publicly released offers, but the Senate splitting the difference signaled a possible compromise between chambers in this late stage of negotiations.

Last year, only four schools were worthy of the “preeminent” title: the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida and Florida International University. Each school received an additional $25 million last year from what was then a $100 million pot of money approved by the Legislature. Next year it will be less.

To determine which schools are considered preeminent, the state uses certain metrics such as graduation rates, faculty credentials, the number of doctoral degrees awarded, the freshman retention rate and endowments.

Out of the 12 criteria, schools must hit 11 different benchmarks, necessitating a schoolwide effort from the President and Provost down to the rank-and-file staff working to keep students on the path to graduation.

The designation — and the funding that comes with it — is a big deal to schools.

“Graduating from a preeminent institution means that your degree will be more highly regarded in the marketplace when you go to search for a job,” USF said.

Schools often spend additional state revenue to hire new faculty, provide more student services, boost research on campus and more. 

Unrecognized Florida schools are chasing the title, including the University of Central Florida, which has said it expects to be named a preeminent school in 2027.

“The University of Central Florida is grateful to the Florida Legislature and the Board of Governors for their support of the preeminent and emerging preeminent programs,” the school said in 2023. “The designation enhances UCF’s national prominence and demonstrates the state’s commitment to nurture the best higher education system in the nation.”

The Florida Preeminence Program was established in 2013.