Florida’s education system has a variety of options for higher education, including the Florida College System, State University System of Florida, Independent Education Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, and District Postsecondary Institutions.
Florida College System (FCS)
Florida’s colleges are the primary option for postsecondary education in the state, with approximately 65% of high school graduates starting their higher education at one of the 28 colleges in Florida.
These colleges have an open-door policy, allowing all students to pursue their education, including those who require remediation. FCS students include both traditional students and adult learners, who seek personal and professional development or to prepare for a new career.
Dual enrollment programs and honors programs attract some of the best and brightest minds to these colleges.
State University System of Florida
The State University System of Florida consists of 12 universities, serving over 300,000 students, and an operating budget of more than $8.5 billion.
Under the Florida Constitution, the Florida Board of Governors was created in 2003 to operate, regulate, control, and be fully responsible for the management of the entire system, ensuring well-planned coordination and operation.
Independent Education Commission
The Commission for Independent Education is responsible for non-public postsecondary and educational institutions.
The commission’s duties include consumer protection, program improvement, institutional policies and administration, data management, and the licensure of independent schools, colleges, and universities.
The commission works towards producing a seamless educational system in the state, in alignment with the Florida Department of Education’s goals.
Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) serves as a guarantor for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) and administers Florida’s scholarship and grant programs.
The OSFA’s mission is to facilitate higher education access and services by providing exemplary customer attention, comprehensive financial aid information, and convenient and efficient products.
District Postsecondary Institutions
Career and Adult Education in Florida is delivered through a network of service providers, which includes District Technical Centres/Colleges. The Career and Adult Education system aims to meet the needs of students and businesses by improving Florida’s workforce.
Table for above information
| Higher Education System | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Florida College System (FCS) | – 28 colleges, 65% of high school grads start here, dual enrollment and honors programs, open-door policy for all students |
| State University System of Florida | – 12 universities, over 300,000 students, annual budget over $8.5B, managed by Florida Board of Governors |
| Independent Education Commission | – Regulates non-public postsecondary education, ensures consumer protection, program improvement, and licensure of schools |
| Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) | – Guarantor for Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), administers Florida’s scholarship and grant programs, facilitates higher education access |
| District Postsecondary Institutions | – Network of service providers for career and adult education |
New Law Endangers the Quality of Florida Higher Education
A recent controversial law passed by the Florida Governor and Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature could undermine the quality of education at public colleges and universities.
The law makes technical changes to how Florida’s public colleges and universities work with accrediting agencies and non-profit organizations that verify the quality of colleges and decide whether students can pay for their schooling using federal financial aid.
The Impact on Accreditors and Students
The law requires colleges and universities to seek a new accrediting agency every 5-10 years, making it harder for accreditors to hold institutions accountable for providing quality education.
This law also allows institutions to sue accreditors if they are “negatively impacted by retaliatory action taken against postsecondary education institution by an accrediting agency or association.”
Accreditors play a vital role in ensuring that institutions provide quality education and that students have sufficient academic support to graduate.
They also help to protect students by ensuring that the programs they enroll in meet certain standards and that students can receive federal financial aid.
Without proper accreditation, students may not be able to access financial aid, transfer credits to other institutions, or have their undergraduate work accepted as adequate for graduate school applications.
Some professional licensing boards may also not allow graduates from unaccredited programs to sit for licensure, which can significantly limit career opportunities for students.
The Importance of Accreditors
Accreditors work to ensure that colleges and universities can operate free of political interference, and their job is to warn institutions if the education they are providing is not good enough.
Taking actions that could negatively impact an institution ensures that students do not attend low-quality programs.
Making it harder for accreditors to hold institutions accountable for providing quality education makes it more challenging to keep educational standards up and political influence out of Florida higher education.
If warning schools and students about areas of concern could lead to legal action, it will hinder accreditors from doing their job effectively.
The Impact on Student Loan Forgiveness and Discharge
For those struggling with student debt, loan forgiveness or discharge can sound like a dream come true. However, these programs are only available for federal student loans, not private ones, and the qualification requirements can be rigorous.
The U.S. Department of Education offers several forgiveness and discharge programs for federal student loans. You may qualify to have some or all of your loans forgiven or discharged in certain situations.
While the terms student loan forgiveness or cancellation and loan discharge are often used interchangeably, they’re actually very different from one another.
Four Student Loan Forgiveness Programs You Should Know About
Student loans can be a significant burden for many borrowers, with payments stretching out for years or even decades after graduation. However, there are options for those struggling to make payments, including student loan forgiveness programs. Here are four programs to consider:
Income-Driven Repayment Forgiveness
If you are having trouble affording your student loan payments under a 10-year standard repayment plan, you may want to consider an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.
Under this plan, your monthly payment is based on your family size and discretionary income. Depending on your situation, you could qualify for a much lower monthly payment than you are making now.
Your repayment term may be 20 or 25 years, depending on the plan you choose. If you still have a balance at the end of your repayment period, the remaining amount is forgiven. However, keep in mind that the forgiven loan amount may be taxable as income.
To qualify for IDR plan forgiveness, you must be eligible for one of the following IDR plans and have a balance after making payments for the full repayment term:
- Income-based repayment
- Income-contingent repayment
- Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
- Revised Pay As You Earn (REPAYE)
Perkins Loan Cancellation and Discharge
If you have Perkins loans and work in public service, you may be eligible for partial or full loan forgiveness. Depending on your position, you could have up to 100% of your loans forgiven within five years.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
Under this program, some federal loan borrowers can have their loans forgiven after 120 monthly loan payments. To qualify, you must work for an eligible non-profit organization or government agency full-time while making 120 monthly qualifying payments. Payments made under an IDR plan count as qualifying payments for PSLF.
The loan balance forgiven through PSLF is not taxable as income. However, it’s essential to note that the eligibility rules for PSLF are strict, and only Direct federal student loans qualify.
Teacher Loan Forgiveness
This program allows you to qualify for up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness if you teach full-time for five consecutive academic years in a low-income elementary or secondary school or educational agency.
Only teachers of certain subjects, such as mathematics or science, are eligible for the full $17,500 of forgiveness. Teachers of other subjects may qualify for $5,000 of forgiveness instead.
To apply, submit the application for this program to your loan servicer after completing five years of service.
It’s worth noting that the Biden administration has launched a new tool to help borrowers determine whether they may qualify for student loan forgiveness based on their public service jobs. The new tool arrives just as a key loan forgiveness expansion is about to expire.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program has historically been governed by strict eligibility rules, but the Biden administration temporarily relaxed these rules through the Limited PSLF Waiver.
The administration allowed even more past loan periods to count towards PSLF, including most past periods of repayment, as well as some past periods of deferment and forbearance. However, these changes are temporary, and the Limited PSLF Waiver is set to end on October 31, 2022.
How to Apply for Keiser University Loan Forgiveness?
Federal Direct Loan Program
Keiser University participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program. This program offers low-interest loans to students and their parents. Direct Loans are serviced by the U.S. Department of Education.
Subsidized Direct Loan
This loan is for undergraduate students with financial needs. The interest is not charged during in-school, deferment, and grace periods.
The interest rate for the Federal Direct Subsidized loan borrowed between July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, is 4.99%. The maximum amount for Subsidized Stafford Loan is $3,500 for first-year students, $4,500 for second-year students, and $5,500 for third-year and fourth-year students.
Unsubsidized Direct Loan
This loan is for both undergraduate and graduate students that are not based on financial need. Interest is charged during in-school, deferment, and grace periods.
The interest rate for Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans borrowed by undergraduate students between July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, is 4.99%. For graduate and professional students, the interest rate is 6.54%.
The maximum amount for Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is $6,000 for first and second-year students, $7,500 for third and fourth-year students, and $20,500 for graduate students.
Federal Direct PLUS Loan
This loan is available to parents of dependent undergraduate students and graduate and professional students.
It is an affordable, low-interest loan designed to help students and parents pay for a college education. The interest rate for Federal Direct PLUS and Grad Plus loans borrowed between July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023, is 7.54%.
Student Loan Management
Keiser University provides an exclusive service for students with Direct Stafford Subsidized or Unsubsidized loan(s) through a relationship with the i3 Group.
The i3 Group can help with understanding Repayment Options, Deferment Options, Forbearance Options, Your Rights and Responsibilities, and other related services. Students having difficulty paying back their loans can call 1-866-296-7955 to get assistance.
Private Loans
Private student loans should only be considered after applying for federal financial aid. Private student loans are available to students who have exhausted all other avenues of obtaining funding and who need additional assistance beyond their financial aid eligibility. These loans are not subsidized or guaranteed by the federal government.
Keiser University does not make any recommendations regarding lender selection for Keiser University Loan Forgiveness.
Lender terms and eligibility change from time to time, and students should review each lender’s terms, conditions, and eligibility requirements before applying for a private loan.
FAQ/Keiser university loan forgiveness program
Q: Is Keiser University accredited?
A: Yes, Keiser University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and has program-specific accreditations.
Q: Does Keiser University participate in federal financial aid programs?
A: Yes, Keiser University participates in federal student loan programs for eligible students who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Q: What types of federal student loans are available through Keiser University?
A: Keiser University offers Subsidized Direct Loans, Unsubsidized Direct Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans to eligible students.
Q: Does Keiser University offer private student loans?
A: Keiser University does not recommend any specific lenders for private student loans, but students can explore private loan options after applying for federal financial aid.