Undocumented students will be barred from initial enrollment at Florida's 12 public universities starting in the 2027-28 school year.

Board Approves Ban Without Debate

The Florida Board of Governors voted unanimously Thursday to amend its general admissions rule, blocking anyone "present in the United States unlawfully" from enrolling for the first time at any state university, the Independent Florida Alligator reported. The Florida Education Association said roughly 8,000 undocumented students graduate from Florida high schools each year and could be affected. Students already enrolled are not affected.

The ban covers the State University System, which includes the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida and Florida State University. It does not apply to private institutions such as Saint Leo University near Wesley Chapel.

The 17-member board, with 14 members appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, passed the rule as part of its consent agenda without discussion during a meeting in Fort Myers. Eight people spoke during a 15-minute public comment period. All opposed the ban.

Pasco County's Growing Hispanic Population

For Pasco County families, the rule affects a district that is growing more diverse each year. Pasco County Schools served roughly 94,833 full-time-equivalent students in the 2026-27 school year, according to district budget records. The share of Hispanic students grew from 24% to 28% over the past six years, and Wiregrass Ranch High School was 29% Hispanic in the 2025-26 school year, according to the Tampa Bay Beacons. No Pasco-specific count of undocumented students exists because districts do not track immigration status under federal law.

Educators and Officials React

FEA President Andrew Spar said the policy cuts off students who grew up in the state's K-12 system. "These are Dreamers … they have only known Florida as their home, and yet because they are undocumented through no fault of their own … they're now being denied higher education, at least here in the state of Florida …" Spar told Tampa Bay 28.

Lt. Gov. Jay Collins praised the rule on X, calling it "common sense" and writing that Florida taxpayers should not be expected to subsidize opportunities for people who entered the country illegally, according to NBC Miami.

Part of a Broader Statewide Rollback

The university ban follows a June 30 vote by the Florida State Board of Education barring undocumented students from the state's 28 community colleges and GED programs. The Florida Policy Institute estimated that the college-system ban alone could cost $15 million a year in lost tuition revenue, Higher Ed Dive reported. Florida joins Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina as states with prohibitive enrollment policies. The Orlando Sentinel reported Florida is the largest state to adopt such a rule.

K-12 Schools and Next Steps Unaffected — For Now

K-12 students are not affected. The U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe guarantees undocumented children access to public schools.

A separate rule extending the ban to career and technical education programs is scheduled for discussion at a Florida Board of Education meeting Sept. 16 at Polk State College.