2026-27 EFSC Budget Includes No Tuition Increase and Employee Pay Raises

Eastern Florida State College seal displayed on a white brick wall background. The circular seal includes the college name surrounding a shield with academic symbols, campus names Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville and Cocoa, and the year 1960 at the bottom.

June 08, 2026

At its Monday meeting, the Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees unanimously approved a $94 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27 that supports the college’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable education to residents on Florida’s Space Coast.

“While this will be a challenging year ahead, I strongly believe this budget is a realistic roadmap for continued success for our students,” said College President Dr. Jim Richey. “Our goal is to ensure they can take advantage of all the incredible educational opportunities we have created over the past 15 years.”

The plan takes effect July 1 and includes several key initiatives:

No Increase in Tuition

EFSC will not increase tuition for the 15th consecutive year:

- Lower division courses for Florida residents will remain at $104 per credit hour.

- Upper division courses will remain at $128.51 per credit hour.

- Non-Florida resident rates will remain at $405.76 (lower division) and $508.92 (upper division).

“This is the 15th year in a row that the college has not raised tuition while fully funding all existing programs and approximately 86 new programs developed over the last decade,” said Richey. “This has clearly benefited our students in their pursuit of higher education and is something I am especially proud of as College President.”

Faculty Compensation Enhancements

The budget includes a tentative collective bargaining agreement that provides:

- A $1,550 base salary increase plus 1% for full-time faculty (pending faculty ratification and Board approval in the fall)

- A 2.5% pay increase for adjunct faculty

“EFSC faculty are second to none,” Richey said. “Together with our administrative team, they have worked diligently over the past several months to address a variety of issues, with meaningful progress made on several fronts. Maintaining outstanding faculty is a priority, as they are key to student success and vital to our continued leadership in higher education in Florida.”

Staff Pay Raises
The budget includes a 2.5% pay increase for all full-time and regular part-time non-probationary staff. This marks the seventh consecutive year the college has increased staff salaries.

Continued Full Health Coverage
The college will continue to cover 100% of the premium cost for employees’ base health care plans, absorbing expected increases for full-time staff and faculty. This benefit remains a key component of EFSC’s commitment to maintaining a competitive workforce.

Investment in Facilities and Infrastructure
Funding is included for major capital projects, including:

- The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) on the Cocoa Campus
- Completion of the Aerospace Center of Excellence (ACE) on the Titusville Campus

The budget also supports upgrades to EFSC’s technology and facilities, along with ongoing infrastructure maintenance.

Responsible Financial Management
The budget fully funds all academic programs while incorporating cost-saving measures, including:

- Leaving non-critical vacant positions unfilled
- Closely monitoring operational expenses

“With this budget, I am confident EFSC will continue to lead the way toward a brighter future for our students and the Brevard community,” said Richey. “We will continue providing outstanding education and support while remaining focused and financially responsible.”

Richey also expressed appreciation for state leadership and the Board of Trustees:

“We are grateful to our Governor and Florida legislators for providing the resources needed to move forward in a positive direction. It is clear they recognize the value and performance of this college. I am also especially thankful for our trustees, whose dedication and commitment are key to our success.”

For more information about Eastern Florida State College, visit easternflorida.edu or call 321-632-1111.

Media Contact: Suzanne Rains, APR, CPRC, Associate Vice President, Communications
Office: 321-433-7022
Cell: 321-537-6986
Email: rainss@easternflorida.edu

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2026-27 EFSC Budget Includes No Tuition Increase and Employee Pay Raises

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