Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver

Overview

The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program was created by the Florida Legislature, first taking effect in Fall 2021. Under this program, resident undergraduate students who are enrolled in eligible programs will receive a tuition waiver for portions of their tuition and fee invoice under certain circumstances. This program can be referred to as the “last-dollar” award, which means:

• It will only apply after all other gift aid (such as grants and scholarships) has been applied to your qualifying tuition charges. 
• If the amount of gift aid you receive matches or exceeds the cost of your eligible tuition charges, you will not receive the waiver. Gift aid cannot be "reallocated" to non-qualifying charges for this calculation.
• If your gift aid does not match or exceed your eligible tuition charges, the waiver will cover 50% of your remaining out-of-pocket tuition charges, but no more than that.

Example Calculations:

• A student studying Mechanical Engineering has $3,233.25 in tuition charges that count toward the POSE program requirements, and this student also has $5,203.25 in gift aid. This student’s gift aid exceeds the cost of their qualifying tuition charges, so they will NOT receive the waiver.
• A student studying Mechanical Engineering has $3,233.25 in tuition charges that count toward the POSE program requirements, and this student does not receive ANY gift aid. In this case, the student receives a waiver of up to 50% of the cost of eligible classes, which amounts to $1,616.63 rounded up ($3,233.25 / 2 = $1,616.62).
• A student studying Mechanical Engineering has $3,233.25 in tuition charges that count toward the POSE program requirements, and this student also has $500 in gift aid. In this case, the student receives a waiver of 50% of their out-of-pocket expenses AFTER the gift aid is applied, which would amount to $1,366.63 rounded up ($3,233.25 - $500 = $2,733.25 / 2 = 1,366.63). 

Student Eligibility

In order to qualify for the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program, students must be certain eligibility criteria:

1. Students must be Florida residents for tuition purposes (in-state residency).
2. Students must have earned at least 60 semester credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public post-secondary institution.
   1. Initial enrollment is defined as the first registration in a public post-secondary institutions after earning a high school diploma.
   2. The 60 semester credit hours must be earned/granted at a Florida public post-secondary institution.
   3. Dual-enrollment from high school credits earned at a Florida public post-secondary institution count towards the 60 credit requirement as long as the student begins initial enrollment at a Florida public post-secondary institution.
3. Students must be enrolled and accepted into one of eight Programs of Strategic Emphasis as adopted by the Board of Governors. This program must be the student's primary major.

Program Eligibility

The Florida Board of Governors has identified ten programs of strategic emphasis, they are:

Course Eligibility

Courses may be taken in the fall, spring, or summer terms, but courses which are not required for the degree program will not count for the waiver. In general, courses must be:

1. Upper division courses required to complete the academic program, including required electives and required courses offered by other departments, for up to 110% of the number of required credit hours.
   1. An upper division course is defined as a 3,000 or 4,000-level course required for the degree using the common course numbering designation.
   2. An equivalent course is defined as a 3,000 or 4,000-level course required for the degree using the common course numbering designations.
   3. The 110% will be based on the number of credit hours required at the time that a student is admitted to the major, regardless of whether the number of hours required increases or decreases at a later point in time.
2. Eligible courses must be taken by the student during the same semester. Students will not be allowed to "bank" waiver credits for use in future terms.
3. Courses cannot be classified as Non-Fundable or Market Rate.

Applicable Fees

The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver program will not waive all tuition and fees, but does offer a steep discount toward eligible 3,000 or 4,000-level undergraduate courses. If granted, the waiver will cover 50% of:

1. Tuition
2. Student Financial Aid Fee
3. Capital Improvement Fee
4. Health Fee (Health, Health +, Counseling Center)
5. Athletic Fee
6. Activity & Services Fee
7. Technology Fee
8. Tuition Differential Fee
9. Transportation Access Fee
10. Distance Learning Fees
11. Student Facilities Use Fee
12. Auxiliary Fees, Lab Fees, Material & Supply Fees, and Equipment Fees

The waiver will not cover:

1. Tuition and Fees for Ineligible Courses (like Non-Fundable, Market Rate, or Courses not within the 3,000 or 4,000-level) 
2. Excess Hours Tuition or Repeat Course Fees
3. FSUCard Term Fee
4. Fees for Books and Supplies
5. Other non-Tuition related fees not explicitly stated in the covered areas above

Policies for the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver are maintained by the Board of Governors of the State University System.

Frequently Asked Questions