Classes don’t begin for Florida college and universities till August, but registration is open and it’s time to start planning if you haven’t already.
Also, the state’s back-to-school tax-free holiday has been expanded this year from two weeks to the entire month of August.
There aren’t many more state changes to be aware of. While several of Florida’s new laws address education, this year’s batch is almost entirely aimed at K-12 schools.
However, the future of the state’s university system may make a dramatic shift as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to “reclaim” higher education from what he calls ideological activists. On July 11, the Board of Governors that oversees higher education in Florida approved the creation of the Commission for Public Higher Education (CPHE) as an alternative to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOG).
Five other Southern states — Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Tennessee — have signed on to create the new accreditor.
Here’s what to know about college and university start dates. Dates are subject to change to meet conditions, such as tropical weather activity.
When is the Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday for 2025?
The back-to-school sales tax holiday will be from Aug. 1-31, 2025.
The monthlong holiday replaces the two-week tax holiday held in prior years.
What school supplies can I buy tax-free in Florida?
Items exempt from sales tax from Aug. 1-31 include:
A full list of qualifying items will be “coming soon” and posted at floridarevenue.com/backtoschool, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
When do classes begin for Florida universities in fall 2025?
Check individual institutions for registration and drop/add deadlines, move-in dates (where applicable) and more. Note that some universities may have staggered start dates for different programs, the dates shown are the earliest class start dates.
When do classes begin for Florida colleges in fall 2025?
Check individual institutions for registration and drop/add deadlines, move-in dates (where applicable) and more. Note that some colleges may have staggered start dates for different programs, the dates shown are the earliest class start dates.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: When do classes start for Florida colleges, universities in fall 2025? Here’s the list
Reporting by C. A. Bridges and Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
