By Alessandra Cipriani-Detres, Program Associate, and Simone Pringle, Program Associate
Reading time: Three minutes
Each year, the Florida College Access Network (FCAN) hosts the Talent Strong Florida Summit, a multi-day gathering of college access professionals in Florida and experts from across the country who come together to share evidence-based approaches, success
stories, and policy solutions that close gaps in postsecondary degree and credential attainment. Here are a few key takeaways and insights we brought back from this year’s summit.
Dual enrollment is strong and showing positive results for postsecondary education attainment in Florida. 94,000 Floridian students are participating in dual enrollment and more than half of these students continue after high school to
obtain a postsecondary degree or certificate. In fact, 64% of Floridian students who participated in a dual enrollment course in 2015
received some sort of postsecondary award within four years, compared to 47% of students who did not participate in dual enrollment. That’s a +17 percentage point difference compared to the national average difference of just +6 percentage points.
Experts on the topic explained some drawbacks of dual enrollment, however. One being that some universities have ACT and SAT score requirements for dual enrollment that often leave out students with low standardized testing scores but high grades and
GPAs. These students are often from low-income backgrounds. Additionally, unlike AP and IB exams where students can only benefit from a high score and will not be affected by a low score, poor performance in a dual enrollment course stays on students’
college transcripts which can affect their financial aid eligibility.
The cost of college in Florida is relatively low, yet the “college isn’t worth it” narrative remains. When 400 college access experts were asked, “In the last year, how many of you have heard the narrative that college isn’t worth it?”
nearly everyone’s hand went up. In Florida, however, a college degree makes a big difference when it comes to lifetime earnings and economic benefits for the state. In fact,
If a student in Florida graduated from high school in 2023, their average lifetime earnings will be $791,000. That number doubles with a bachelor’s degree.
Increasing college enrollment in Florida by 10% could lead to $8.4 billion in social gains per cohort.
College tuition in Florida is capped at $6,400 per year. Experts found that the cost of college tuition and fees in Florida over five years is cheaper than the average cost of tuition over four years in every state except for two.
Exploring financial aid packages is still tripping up students and their families. Deciphering the award letter is often a confusing time for families, and while there’ve been some efforts to standardize the way packages are presented, it helps to consider variables that won’t be explicitly mentioned on the page.
While it doesn’t have to be repaid, federal work study does mean a student will need to apply for an on-campus work study position, and that the amount listed in their award letter is the maximum they are eligible for, not necessarily the amount they’re
going to earn. Also, families should bear in mind that work-study eligibility can change year after year. Due to work-study’s limitations, some students who need to work to support their families may find getting an off-campus position makes more
sense.
Account for the differences between renewable and non-renewable aid year over year. A $5,000 non-renewable scholarship is going to cause a $5,000 gap the next year, so having a plan in place to fill the gap from the start is ideal.
Families should inquire and read the terms of all scholarships and grants carefully. Some have provisions tied to enrollment status that may make a student liable for repayment if those terms are not fulfilled.
The Talent Strong Florida Summit serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of uniting college access and success professionals from across the state. By gathering in person, Florida’s education community has the chance to share innovative strategies,
discuss challenges, and build partnerships that can help more students access a variety of postsecondary pathways. These types of convenings not only promote collaboration but also reinforce the collective commitment to ensuring every student has
the support needed to succeed in postsecondary education.
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