The Florida Board of Governors has approved the 2025-2026 State University System Operating Budget, allocating $645 million to Performance-Based Funding and $40 million for preeminent universities. The budget also includes $6 million in funding for the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program, supporting 24 proposals from 10 universities within the State University System of Florida.
“The approval of the State University System Operating Budget includes key funding that will maintain Florida’s position as a national leader in higher education,” said SUS Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “Performance-Based Funding ensures that our institutions are constantly evolving to provide students with the highest quality education, and investment in preeminence supports academic and research successes that contribute to the rise of our state universities in the national rankings.”
“Thank you to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and support from the Florida Legislature for investing in higher education year after year, allowing our Board of Governors to advance the initiatives of the System’s strategic plan, which includes strengthening the talent pipeline for Florida’s workforce needs,” said Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb. “The State University System of Florida continues to expand partnerships within the healthcare sector to combat the nursing shortage. The growing network of collaboration between our institutions, healthcare systems, and hospitals throughout the state not only increases the capacity of our nursing programs but also creates the lasting impact of providing exceptional care for Florida communities.”
The LINE program was established in 2022 as a competitive grant initiative that matches funds dollar-for-dollar with participating institutions and their healthcare partners. The goal is to address local, regional, and statewide demand for nurses by encouraging collaboration between universities and healthcare providers. Funds from this program can be used for scholarships, faculty recruitment, equipment purchases, and supporting simulation centers aimed at expanding high-quality nursing education.
The $6 million awarded will be distributed among proposals from ten universities: Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida, and University of West Florida.
In addition to budget approvals and nursing program funding, the Board reaffirmed its commitment to promoting civil discourse on campuses. The State University System plans to continue hosting public policy events across all twelve institutions during the academic year to foster intellectual curiosity and respectful debate.
