Daytona State College becomes first in Florida to reduce tuition

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2015) - As the cost of college tuition still trends upward at schools across the nation, Daytona State College may be the first to begin steering the trend downward.

Supporting a recommendation by the school's newly appointed president, Dr. Tom LoBasso, the college's District Board of Trustees at its Aug. 20 meeting unanimously approved a 2 percent tuition decrease, making DSC the only public college in Florida, and among few in the nation, to do so in years. The decrease, which will be effective for spring 2016 semester, will result in a savings of $31 per semester for full-time students.

"We are able to do this because we have been running very efficiently," LoBasso told the board, noting he has been working with the college's budget office since March to determine whether the reduction was feasible. "Whenever possible, we have been able to reorganize without losing quality."

LoBasso, who in June became DSC's seventh president in the college's near 60-year history, also noted that better-than-expected enrollment for summer and fall semesters made the decision to present the proposed tuition decrease to the board an easy one. "This is a way to give back to our students," he said. "The college as a whole would like to make sure that education is affordable and accessible to all who come here. Strong enrollment helps us pass along budget savings to our students."

In-state students pursuing two-year associate degrees will see tuition and related fees reduced 2 percent, from $104.48 to $102.39. In-state tuition for bachelor's degrees will remain the same; however, the same related fees – capital improvement, technology, student activities and financial aid fees – will see the 2-percent decrease.

The tuition reduction comes on the heels of a five-year tuition freeze at Daytona State, one that already marked it among the most affordable places to earn a college education nationwide. According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center, Daytona State tuition is less than half the national average for public four-year colleges and universities.

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