Spending Soars, Rankings Fall at New College of Florida

"More than two years into a conservative takeover of New College of Florida, spending has soared and rankings have plummeted, raising questions about the efficacy of the overhaul. While state officials, including Republican governor Ron DeSantis, have celebrated the death of what they have described as "woke indoctrination" at the small liberal arts college, student outcomes are trending downward across the board: Both graduation and retention rates have fallen since the takeover in 2023."

"Those metrics are down even as New College spends more than 10 times per student what the other 11 members of the State University System spend, on average. While one estimate last year put the annual cost per student at about $10,000 per member institution, New College is an outlier, with a head count under 900 and a $118.5 million budget, which adds up to roughly $134,000 per student."

A conservative takeover of New College of Florida began more than two years ago. Institutional spending has increased dramatically while national rankings and student outcomes have declined. Graduation and retention rates have fallen since the 2023 takeover. The college’s $118.5 million budget for under 900 students yields about $134,000 per student, over ten times the State University System average. State funding has supported new athletics programs and recruitment efforts. Some board members and critics question the return on investment and raise concerns about political motives and long‑term viability.

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