The Florida State University Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a $2.97 billion operating budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, down 1% from last year’s unprecedented $3 billion budget. With lawmakers still working to finalize the state’s budget, which is expected to pass next week, the university’s budget does not yet include changes related to FY 2025-2026 state appropriation levels. Related budget amendments will be incorporated once Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the state’s budget.
Florida State has not raised tuition for the past 12 years, instead relying on the generous support of the Florida Legislature to remain one of the nation’s most affordable and highest-quality institutions. Notably, 85.2% of full-time undergraduates received some form of non-loan student financial aid during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Though the budget does not reflect any new state funding for 2025-2026, it demonstrates FSU’s commitment to retain outstanding faculty, staff, and graduate students, invest in student financial aid packages, and prioritize research activity amid continuing developments in the federal funding model. The expansion of FSU Health also remains a focus with the goal of enhancing health outcomes in North Florida and beyond.
The 2025-2026 Annual Operating Budget is estimated to be larger than that of 94 foreign countries and includes $486 million for capital projects. The capital outlay budget includes allocations for the FSU Academic Health Center in Tallahassee, the new Football Operations Facility, Doak Campbell Stadium, and the College of Business’ Legacy Hall.
The university’s operating budget injects an estimated $14.7 billion into the local and state economies annually, according to the FSU Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis. That estimate includes about $4.8 billion in direct revenue or sales and over $197 million in spending by non-resident students, as well as $8.77 billion in lifetime earnings by recent FSU graduates, based on the center’s latest Florida State University System report.