Florida State University secured more than $180 million for nearly all of its top legislative priorities in Florida’s 2026-27 state budget, including major investments in engineering, research, FSU Health, student success and campus infrastructure.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the state’s $117.6 billion budget, approving dozens of Florida State initiatives that will support teaching, research and service across the university while advancing major capital projects.

Among the largest investments is $92 million for Building C at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, a long-awaited expansion that will increase research capacity, support enrollment growth and help meet Florida’s workforce needs.

“This year’s budget positions Florida State University to move strategic priorities forward and build on our momentum as one of the top public universities in the nation,” President Richard McCullough said. “It will expand opportunities for students, strengthen our ability to attract and support exceptional faculty and staff, and deepen our impact across Florida and beyond. We appreciate the continued confidence of the Florida Legislature, including Speaker Daniel Perez, and Gov. Ron DeSantis in FSU’s ability to deliver meaningful results for the people of Florida.”

Other approved projects include investment in the Veterans Legacy Complex, the Middleton Center, Moore Auditorium, Rovetta Hall, the Basketball Training Facility, deferred maintenance for FSU Health facilities, life safety improvements and planning for FSU’s future dental school.

Collectively, these investments strengthen FSU’s academic, research, student life, health and athletic missions while positioning Florida State to meet continued enrollment growth and expand its national prominence.

FSU also secured about $26 million in operational support, including $17.4 million in recurring funding. The Legislature maintained funding for numerous recurring and nonrecurring university programs, reflecting continued confidence in Florida State University’s mission and priorities.

While several individual projects were vetoed, the overwhelming majority of the university’s priorities were approved. Most notably, the historic investment in capital infrastructure will shape FSU’s physical campus, research enterprise, student experience and academic mission for decades to come and stands as one of the defining accomplishments of this legislative session.

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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 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. 

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The Florida State University Board of Trustees approved a $3 billion operating budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a 14.3% increase from last year and the largest budget in the institution’s history. 

“This budget will help us advance our bold agenda and pursue the ambitious goals outlined in our strategic plan,” said President Richard McCullough. “These funds will allow us to create more opportunities for our students, retain and hire outstanding faculty and staff, and make a positive difference in the state of Florida and beyond.” 

While the budget has grown, Florida State has not raised the price of tuition for the past 11 years, and the university remains one of the nation’s most affordable and highest-quality institutions. In fact, 86.3% of full-time undergraduates received some form of non-loan student financial aid during the 2022-2023 academic year.  

The budget includes new state funding that the university will use to retain outstanding faculty, staff and graduate students, hire additional preeminent research faculty, boost financial aid packages, buy equipment for new and existing facilities, enhance IT infrastructure, and continue to develop FSU Health, an initiative to improve health outcomes in North Florida and beyond. 

The 2024-2025 Annual Operating Budget is estimated to be larger than that of 92 foreign countries and includes $519 million for capital projects. The capital outlay budget includes allocations for Doak Campbell Stadium, the College of Business’ Legacy Hall, a new Football Operations Facility, the FSU Health Academic Health Center and the Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building.   

The university’s operating budget injects an estimated $15.5 billion into the local and state economies annually, according to the FSU Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis. That estimate includes about $5.8 billion in direct revenue or sales and over $174 million in spending by non-resident students, as well as $9.5 billion in lifetime earnings by recent (FY19-20) FSU graduates, based on the center’s latest Florida State University System report. 

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On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, which will provide Florida State University with significant operational support and new funds for capital projects during the next fiscal year and bolster FSU in advancing its mission as one of the top public universities in the country.  

The Florida Legislature approved the 2024-2025 state budget in March at the end of the 2024 Legislative Session. 

“We are grateful to the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis for providing crucial funding that will allow Florida State University to continue our incredible momentum and elevate our national prominence,” said President Richard McCullough. “This funding is vital as we grow our research enterprise, retain and recruit outstanding faculty, students and staff, and invest in key initiatives that will benefit our students, our state and our nation.”  

FSU will receive $20 million in recurring operational enhancement funds that it plans to invest in hiring prominent research faculty and building upon its nation-leading student success efforts. The university also will receive $55 million in non-recurring operational enhancement funds that it will use for capital renewal, investments in IT infrastructure and start-up costs for FSU Health, an initiative to improve health outcomes in North Florida and beyond. 

The state appropriated $100 million in new recurring Preeminence funding and another $100 million for State University System Recruitment and Retention, which the Board of Governors will allocate among the state universities. 

The new state budget also includes $5 million in non-recurring funds for the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases, which will continue to support a laboratory for newborn genetic screening and provide additional support to bolster the strong biomedical research program. FSU also received $8 million in non-recurring funds to support the Florida Institute for Governance and Civics. 

FSU will receive nearly $83 million in new funds for capital projects. The state funded four of FSU’s top capital appropriation requests for the second consecutive year:   

• $55.4 million to renovate and redesign research space in the Dittmer Chemistry Lab Building, which was built in 1967. This appropriation fully funds this capital project.  

• $10 million for relocation of FSU’s 45-year-old maintenance complex, which will free up space in the center of campus for core academic, research, and student services. 

• $7.5 million in funding for construction of the Veterans Legacy Complex, a project that will better address the unique veteran and military students’ specific needs. 

• $5 million in funding for continued planning and construction of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Building C, which is needed to accommodate the projected growth of the college’s enrollment and research expansion. 

In addition, FSU will receive $3 million to build the Center for Energy Independence, a dedicated research infrastructure for handling hydrogen and other energy sources, positioning the State of Florida as a leader in energy independence.  

The university also will receive $2 million for the design and planning of a new state-of-the-art facility for the College of Nursing, a growing college that attracts the second-most NIH funding in the nation among public schools of nursing.  

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Florida State University will receive about $109 million in new recurring operational support along with new funding for several capital projects from the Florida Legislature in the upcoming fiscal year, allowing FSU to further its mission as one of the top public universities in the nation.  

The Florida Legislature approved the 2023-2024 state budget in early May, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the spending plan on Thursday morning. Separately on Thursday, the Florida State University Board of Trustees approved the largest operating budget in university history during their regularly scheduled June meeting.  

“Florida State University is laser-focused on reaching our strategic goals — expanding our research portfolio, recruiting and retaining excellent faculty, staff and graduate students, transforming health care in North Florida and continuing to rise in the national rankings,” said President Richard McCullough. “This state funding will be critical as we continue to make investments to advance our top priorities. We are grateful to the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis for recognizing the amazing work happening across our university and the outstanding return-on-investment that FSU provides to our students, the people of Florida and our nation.” 

FSU will receive $60.7 million in new recurring operational enhancement funding that it plans to invest in bolstering research and academic excellence, ensuring student success and expanding its FSU Health initiative as it aims to transform health care in North Florida and beyond.  

In addition, the state appropriated $100 million in new recurring Preeminence funding, which will be split equally between FSU and Florida’s other preeminent universities. The Legislature also increased State University System Performance-based funding for the first time since 2018, and FSU is estimated to receive an additional $15 million over the current year’s total.  

The new state budget also includes: 

• $20 million (NR) in operational enhancement for National High Magnetic Field Laboratory research 

• $8 million (NR) for the Florida Institute for Governance and Civics (formerly Institute of Politics) 

• $1 million (NR) for the Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases 

• $1 million (NR) for the College of Law Elections Program 

The state funded several of FSU’s capital appropriation requests, highlighted by $40 million to renovate and redesign research space in the Dittmer Chemistry Lab Building; $30 million toward demolition and relocation of FSU’s 45-year-old maintenance complex; and $10 million in funding toward planning and initial construction of the Veterans Legacy Complex, a project that will better address the unique veteran and military students’ specific needs. 

The Legislature also appropriated $20 million in funding for planning and construction of new space for FAMU-FSU College of Engineering Building C, which is needed to accommodate the projected growth of the college’s enrollment and research expansion. 

The university also received $1.5 million for planning and construction of a building that will serve as the cornerstone of an innovative FSU Arts District. The building will provide high-quality space for multiple colleges and departments and create a centralized source of cultural and economic growth for the community. 

Other capital outlay projects that received funding were $4 million for FSU Health – Panama City and $2.3 million for Kellogg Research Building renovations. 

“The Governor, Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo have put a record amount of funding into the State University System this year and have clearly stated their commitment to higher education in Florida,” said FSU Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins. “They have also clearly shown their commitment to Florida State University continuing to be one of the top public universities in the country. The Board of Trustees and President McCullough are aligned on the university’s priorities, and we are looking forward to the positive changes that this new funding will allow.”    

BOT Approves Largest Operating Budget in FSU History 

Also on Thursday, the Florida State University Board of Trustees approved the university operating budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year during their June meeting.  

This year’s operating budget of $2.62 billion is an overall increase of 11%. 

While the operating budget is the largest in university history, Florida State continues to be ranked as one of the most affordable and highest-quality institutions in the nation. The cost of FSU’s tuition has remained unchanged for the past 10 years, and the majority of full-time undergraduates — 87% in the academic year 2021-2022 — receive some form of non-loan student financial aid. 

The operating budget includes new state funding for operational enhancements that FSU plans to invest in increasing research and academic excellence, ensuring student success and expanding its FSU Health initiative as it aims to transform health care in North Florida and beyond. 

The 2023-2024 Annual Operating Budget, estimated to be larger than that of 86 foreign countries, includes allocations for the College of Business’ Legacy Hall, a new Interdisciplinary Research and Commercialization Building, a new Academic Health Center, Athletic Enhancements, Research Facility Upgrades, and a new Football Operations Facility.  

The university’s operating budget injects an estimated $13.7 billion into the local and state economies annually, according to the FSU Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis. That estimate includes about $4.3 billion in direct revenue or sales and over $178 million in spending by non-resident students, as well as $9.2 billion in lifetime earnings (in 2023 dollars) by recent (FY19-20) FSU graduates, based on the latest draft of the center’s annual report. 

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