Gov. Scott Wants 4 Year Degrees to Cost $10k or Less

TALLAHASEE, Fla. (AP) _ Gov. Rick Scott wants Florida’s community and state colleges to develop bargain four-year degrees costing less than $10,000.

Scott made his proposal Monday in the form of a challenge before an audience of elected officials and college and community leaders at the Clearwater campus of St. Petersburg College.

The 28 colleges in recent years have begun offering a limited number of four-year degrees but the bulk of their students are in two-year programs.

Most of Florida’s bachelor’s degrees are produced by the state’s 12 public universities.

The four-year tuition there is about $24,000.

Scott’s challenge comes just three weeks after his task force on State Higher Education Reform recommended that Florida’s 12 universities be allowed to increase tuition rates that are among the lowest in the nation.