Florida's State University System got its report card, and the returns aren't pretty.
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education released the latest edition of its biennial report Wednesday and gave the state of Florida mediocre marks overall, including a D in participation and an F in affordability.
Florida earned F's in the affordability categories in the 2004 and 2006 reports, as well. Other states did not fare much better. Forty-nine states earned F's in affordability this year, with the lone exception of California, which was given a C.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said it was odd the state received the low mark just two days after the College Board released data for the 2007-2008 school year that shows Florida having the lowest average tuition and fees among all 50 states, coming in at $3,361.
Bill Edmonds, Board of Governors spokesman, harshly criticized the study. The board oversees Florida's 11 public universities.
"When basically every state in the country gets a failing grade, what are they saying?" Edmonds said.
No one from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education was available for comment Wednesday evening.
According to the report, higher education has become less attainable for students, and poor and working-class families must devote 24 percent of their income to pay for the costs of a four-year public school, even after all aid has been disbursed.
Orlando said the Florida Opportunity Scholars program helps about 1,100 first-generation students afford to come to Gainesville who otherwise could not.
College opportunities for young and working-age adults are poor, according to the report. Forty schools earned a C or lower in the participation category. Only 33 percent of people in Florida from ages 18 to 24 are enrolled in college.
The report did give Florida a B-plus in completion, stating that 53 percent of college students complete a bachelor's degree within six years.
Both Edmonds and Orlando said the report card would not directly lead to any new proposals.
"The Board of Governors knows what we need to address," Edmonds said. "This kind of analysis doesn't help us in any way."
