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MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026
VOLUME 120 - ISSUE 36 Not officially associated with the University of Florida
Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida
Out-of-state students express concern for UF’s proposed tuition hike TRUSTEES AGREED TO INCREASE CURRENT STUDENT FEES BY 5% AND INCOMING STUDENT FEES BY 15%
By Swasthi Maharaj Alligator Staff Writer
UF Board of Trustees met June 11 to decide whether to approve a 15% fee increase for out-of-state and international students. This initial proposal would have raised nonresident fees by 25% in two years. However, at the meeting, Chair Mori Hosseini proposed a revision of the initial proposal, raising the fees of nonresident students who had been at UF for at least one year by 5% and those of incoming students by 15%. The proposal came less than a year after UF approved a 10% increase in out-of-state and international students’ fees. According to UF’s May 8 notice, the increase is intended to help offset rising instructional and operational costs while keeping the university competitive with peer institutions. According to UF’s 2024-25 Common Data Set, nearly one in five first-year students come from outside Florida. The data shows international and out-of-state students compose over 12% of undergraduate students. UF’s proposal also came amid broader state efforts to limit nonresident enrollment in public universities. In February, the House Budget Committee approved a proposal by Rep. Jennifer Kincart Johnson, R-Lakeland, that would require Florida’s state universities to reserve 95% of new Fall enrollments for in-state students —
SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT
Medieval Faire finish with comma, Story description
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire finds pg# new venue. Read more on pg. 3.
dropping out-of-state admission from 10% to 5%. The proposal came alongside UF’s pause on out-of-state and international transfer students. The pause was meant to last two weeks, but has now lasted over two months. Lexline Johnson, a 20-year-old computer science junior, is an instate student. She believes any tuition increase should apply only to future students rather than to current ones. “I feel like it is unfair to out-ofstate students since they agreed to attend UF under the impression of a different tuition rate,” she said. “Now that tuition rate is increased, that might not be in their budget anymore.” Fran Edwards, a 23-year-old UF political science PhD student from Arkansas, said she believes in-state students have contributed to Florida’s economy — and should have lower tuition because of it. Edwards said she doesn’t understand the tuition hike’s timing. It’s a decision that may force students to transfer, she added. “I just think it’s completely unfair to pull the rug out from under so many students,” she said. Still, the debate isn’t just about money to Edwards. Edwards said UF should want to support a diverse student body, as it offers such a diverse course catalogue. Considering Florida is one of the most diverse places in the U.S., she said, the school should aim to have students with unique perspectives. Edwards, who will be teaching a political science discussion section in the Fall, said students’ personal experiences can often
SEE TUITIOIN, PAGE 4
Anenaa Kumar // Alligator Staff
With UF increasing tuition fees for out-of-state students, there is an added fear for both out-of-state and international students about future costs and potential enrollment limits.
Presidential finalist Stuart Bell moves to final stage of UF presidential selection FOLLOWING UNANIMOUS APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, BELL AWAITS THE FLORIDA BOARD OF GOVERNORS
By Logan McBride Alligator Staff Writer
With the UF Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval of finalist Stuart Bell June 10, UF took one step further in its presidential approval process for the candidate. The vote pushes Bell to the final stage of the pro-
The Avenue: Food
The Paper Bag Deli to open first non-Gainesville location, pg. 5
cess: getting approval from the Florida Board of Governors. The board rejected the last presidential finalist, Santa Ono, less than a year ago, in part due to his record of diversity, equity and inclusion. During the two-hour meeting June 10, the Board of Trustees asked Bell a series of questions regarding DEI, athletics and fundraising, while defending several criticisms of the selection. Board Chair Mori Hosseini delivered a passionate message to Bell’s detractors encouraging them to put politics aside and consider UF’s students, faculty and
SEE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, PAGE 4
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Stadium renovations
UF proposes $1.45 billion renovations on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, pg. 12
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