SARASOTA, Fla.—The Florida Board of Governors approved the 2025-2026 State University System Operating Budget, which includes $645 million for Performance-Based Funding and $40 million for preeminent universities. The Board also approved $6 million for the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund for 24 proposals from 10 universities within the State University System of Florida (SUS).
“The approval of the State University System Operating Budget includes key funding that will maintain Florida’s position as a national leader in higher education,” said SUS Chancellor Ray Rodrigues. “Performance-Based Funding ensures that our institutions are constantly evolving to provide students with the highest quality education, and investment in preeminence supports academic and research successes that contribute to the rise of our state universities in the national rankings.”
“Thank you to the leadership of Governor DeSantis and support from the Florida Legislature for investing in higher education year after year, allowing our Board of Governors to advance the initiatives of the System’s strategic plan, which includes strengthening the talent pipeline for Florida’s workforce needs,” said Florida Board of Governors Chair Brian Lamb. “The State University System of Florida continues to expand partnerships within the healthcare sector to combat the nursing shortage. The growing network of collaboration between our institutions, healthcare systems, and hospitals throughout the state not only increases the capacity of our nursing programs but also creates the lasting impact of providing exceptional care for Florida communities.”
The LINE program was established in 2022 as a competitive grant opportunity and provides matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis to participating institutions that partner with healthcare providers, incentivizing collaboration to meet local, regional, and statewide demand for nurses. Funds may be used for scholarships, faculty recruitment, purchasing equipment, and supporting simulation centers to increase the capacity of high-quality nursing education programs.
The approved $6 million will be shared across the 24 proposals from Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, University of Florida, and University of West Florida.
Additionally, the Board reemphasized its commitment to ensuring campuses remain a beacon for civil discourse and engagement. The SUS will continue to lead by example through the dozens of public policy events hosted across all 12 institutions throughout the academic year, encouraging intellectual curiosity and respectful debate.
###
About the State University System of Florida and the Board of Governors
The State University System of Florida is a constitutional body led by the 17-member Board of Governors. The System has 12 universities and more than 430,000 students, making it the second-largest public university system in the nation. Florida has held the top spot in U.S. News & World Report for higher education since the inception of the rankings in 2017. Responsibilities include defining the distinctive mission of each institution and managing the System’s coordination and operation. The Board appoints a Chancellor who serves as the System’s chief executive. For more information, visit flbog.edu or follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.