Undocumented students will soon no longer be able to enroll in Florida’s 12 public universities under a new rule approved by the State University System’s Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors voted unanimously on September 3 to approve the regulation, which takes effect beginning with the 2027–28 academic year. The rule says a person who is unlawfully present in the United States will not be eligible to enroll at a state university that did not admit all academically qualified applicants during the previous two academic years.
Florida’s State University System includes 12 public universities and serves more than 431,000 students.
Although the regulation is written around universities with selective admissions, reporting on the decision says it will apply across Florida’s 12 public universities. Students who are already enrolled are not expected to be removed under the new university rule, which focuses on new enrollment.
Florida Has Also Changed Rules for Public Colleges
The university decision follows restrictions adopted earlier this year affecting undocumented students seeking education through other parts of Florida’s public education system.
In June, the Florida State Board of Education moved to restrict undocumented students from the state’s public college system and adult education programs. Florida’s adult education system includes programs such as Adult Basic Education, Adult High School, English for Speakers of Other Languages and GED preparation.
Together, the changes significantly narrow the public higher-education options available in Florida to people who are not lawfully present in the United States.
The university system does not currently track how many students enrolled at its institutions are undocumented, according to reporting from the News Service of Florida. That makes it difficult to determine exactly how many students will be affected once the new enrollment restriction takes effect.
The change also follows Florida’s 2025 repeal of a policy that had allowed certain undocumented students who met specific requirements to qualify for in-state tuition rates.
Supporters and Critics Respond
The decision has drawn different reactions across the state.
Following the vote, Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins described the policy as “common sense,” arguing that admission to the state’s public universities should be reserved for students who are legally present in the country.
Critics have argued that restricting access to education could close opportunities for young people who grew up or attended school in Florida and could also affect the state’s future workforce.
The change applies specifically to Florida’s public university system. It does not create the same enrollment restriction for private universities, which are outside the authority of the State University System Board of Governors.
For undocumented students hoping to attend one of Florida’s public universities, the most important date is the 2027–28 academic year, when the new enrollment restriction is scheduled to begin.
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