📅 2026–2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025–2026). Universities typically finalize the next year’s rates in the spring, and we’ll update this page once official 2026–2027 numbers are released.

Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2–5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000–$1,500 more in-state or $2,000–$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.

Average Federal Net Price: $30,462 — this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options

How Florida Southern Lowers the Cost (Private College Strategy)

• Same tuition for all students: There is no in-state vs out-of-state pricing, so non-Florida residents are not penalized.
• Automatic merit scholarships: Most admitted students receive academic awards ranging from roughly $10,000–$26,000 per year with no separate application.
• Prestige & full-ride scholarships: Competitive awards like Hollingsworth, George W. Jenkins, and Legacy of Prestige can cover full tuition or the full cost of attendance.
• Visit-based awards: Programs like the Southern Experience Scholarship reward campus engagement rather than residency.

Bottom line: At Florida Southern, affordability depends more on academic strength and scholarship strategy than state residency.

🌴 Florida Resident Tip: State Grants for Private Colleges (EASE)

Florida residents attending eligible private colleges may qualify for state grant support through the William L. Boyd, IV Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) program. If your student is a Florida resident, ask FSC’s financial aid office whether EASE applies to your package and how it interacts with FSC scholarships.

Note: EASE is a state-funded grant for full-time Florida-resident undergraduates at eligible private colleges. Program eligibility and award amounts (typically a few thousand dollars per year) can change with each state budget, so confirm the current amount and requirements before planning around it.

Sources:
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/florida-southern-college/tuition-and-costs
https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?134097-Florida-Southern-College

Why cut-points matter at FSC:

• Merit tiers: FSC publishes scholarship ranges (not fixed amounts), so the difference between “solid” and “very strong” academics can shift a student from the lower end to the top end of a band.
• Prestige eligibility: 3.5 GPA + ACT 29 / SAT 1330 is a key threshold because it’s the minimum to apply for the Prestige track — not a guarantee of selection.
• Transfers: Moving from 3.00+ to 3.50+ college GPA can mean several thousand dollars more per year in guaranteed transfer merit.

🟡 Test-Optional & Superscoring Policy

Florida Southern is test-optional, but if scores are submitted, the college superscores both the ACT and SAT. Strong superscored results can help place students toward the top of a merit range.

🧭 What This Usually Looks Like at Florida Southern (Realistic Scenarios)

These are ballpark examples to help parents translate merit tiers into a realistic plan. Exact awards vary by year and student profile, but this is a practical way to set expectations.

Planning rule: Build your baseline plan around automatic merit + any easy-to-earn stackables. Treat Prestige/Jenkins/Hollingsworth as “upside,” not the foundation of affordability.

Sources:
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/undergraduate-merit-scholarships
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarships
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/

🟡 One Application for the Prestige Track

Florida Southern uses a single Prestige Scholarship application that places eligible students into consideration for Hollingsworth, McClurg, and Christoverson. (Jenkins has its own application.)

Sources:
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/prestige-scholarships
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/hollingsworth-scholarship-application
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/christoverson-scholarship-application
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/george-w-jenkins-application
https://www.flsouthern.edu/southern-experience-scholarship

🧮 Quick Stacking Example (How the Gap Shrinks)

Here’s a simplified example of how FSC awards can combine. Final packages vary, but this shows why “stackables” matter.

• Sticker (Direct/Billed): Tuition + Housing/Meals ≈ $60,998
• Automatic Merit (example band): $20,000–$26,000 / year (depends on the student’s profile)
• Southern Experience Scholarship: $2,000 / year (OOS) or $1,000 / year (FL) if visit + apply by the deadline

Parent takeaway: Even without need-based aid, a student with mid-to-high merit plus Southern Experience often lands in a much more realistic net-cost band. Add need-based grants (if eligible), and the out-of-pocket number can drop further.

Note: FSC typically caps institutional aid at cost (and some awards may replace rather than stack). Always confirm stacking rules in the student’s award letter.

Also Worth Knowing: Florida Southern offers departmental, talent-based, and identity- or purpose-driven scholarships that don’t always appear in the main merit grid, including:

• Hollis Fellows in Education (education majors)
• Christian Service & Pre-Ministerial Awards (United Methodist–affiliated pathways)
• Music, Theatre, Visual Arts & Design Scholarships (auditions/portfolios required)
• Nursing, Science, Accounting & Program-Specific Awards
• Athletic Scholarships (NCAA Division II; coach-awarded)

These awards may require auditions, interviews, or departmental review and can sometimes be combined with academic merit.

🎯 Parent Playbook: Three High-Impact Moves at Florida Southern

• Lock the Southern Experience Scholarship early. Schedule a campus visit (or an approved visit format) and submit the application by the posted deadline (often around March 1). This award is designed to be stackable with other FSC awards (up to tuition), which makes it one of the easiest “gap closers.”
• Know the Prestige eligibility cut-point. If your student is around 3.5 GPA + ACT 29 / SAT 1330, they may be eligible to apply for the Prestige track (still highly competitive). If you’re close, a superscored retest could move a student into the “eligible to try” lane.
• Use Honors strategically if your student is ambitious. FSC’s Honors Program can include priority registration, an Honors housing option, and the ability to take an overload (up to ~20 credits) without additional tuition — which can be a real savings lever for double majors or pre-health tracks.

Sources:
https://www.flsouthern.edu/southern-experience-scholarship
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/special-interest-scholarships
https://www.flsouthern.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate-financial-aid/undergraduate-scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarships

Parent takeaway: At FSC, the Honors Program sits alongside Prestige Scholarships and departmental enrichment tracks. Many top students participate in both, creating a layered honors experience rather than a single pathway.

Nationally Known Strength:
Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture & Campus Design — Florida Southern is home to the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. The campus itself is a nationally recognized landmark and serves as a living laboratory for students studying architecture, design, art history, and museum studies.

⚠️ Quick Honesty Check (Financial Fit)

• If your student is below about a 3.0 GPA and applying test-optional, FSC merit may not reduce the price enough to compete with lower-cost public options.
• If your plan requires a guaranteed full ride, treat Hollingsworth/Jenkins/Prestige as “upside” — they are real, but very competitive. Build your baseline around automatic merit + stackables and then pursue flagship awards as a bonus.

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