Cutting EASE grants for low-income students will hurt South Florida's economy

Miami Herald

08-04-2025

Every day in the halls of Barry University in Miami Shores, I meet students whose lives are being transformed by having access to higher education. Barry is more than a college campus.
We are a workforce engine, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and a private, nonprofit university dedicated to serving students from all backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.
That's why the proposed cuts by the Florida Legislature to the Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant jeopardize our community.
The EASE grant is a state-funded program that provides tuition assistance to more than 40,000 Florida residents attending eligible private and nonprofit colleges and universities. Students are eligible to receive $3,500 every semester. For many of these students the EASE grant bridges the financial gap. Without it, their dreams of obtaining a degree may be out of reach.
On Monday, I was among a group of Florida college and university leaders who met to discuss the recent Florida House budget proposal to trim $4 billion from higher education for state students, particularly those who use the EASE grants.
House Speaker Daniel Perez of Miami has signaled that his initial budget will include reductions across the board,, including education. No specific figures have not been disclosed, the potential impact on students attending private institutions, including faith-based universities, could be devastating.
The EASE grant supports student choice and economic mobility by following the student, much like a K-12 voucher, allowing families to choose the institution that best fits their needs. For many, that choice is Barry University, where students benefit from personalized support and a mission-driven education.
This year alone, more than 1,000 Barry students relied on EASE funding to make their education goals possible. Almost 200 of those students received support through EASE Plus, which offers targeted support to those in high-demand fields. These are South Florida's future nurses, teachers, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, and social workers.
Cutting this support will exacerbate shortages in critical sectors that Florida urgently needs to fill. Without EASE, many of them would have to put their dreams and their degrees on hold.
The proposed introduction of eligibility metrics unevenly and harshly punishes students who attend institutions like Barry, which operates efficiently and serves students who may not thrive in large university environments.
Incidentally, students at other South Florida universities, including the University of Miami, St. Thomas University and Florida Memorial University also would be excluded from funding based on the proposed metric system. Reducing support for programs like EASE would shrink the pipeline of graduates entering high-demand fields and weaken South Florida's economic growth.
The data speaks for itself. Barry and 30 other members of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF) produce degrees at 26% less cost than state universities.
Our average cost per credit hour is also lower. And for every $1 million invested in institutions like ours, Florida sees $14.5 million in return through degrees earned, jobs created and local contributions that fuel our economy.
We take great pride in our students, especially knowing that 82% of EASE recipients throughout the state stay here in Florida after graduation to work, serve, and lead their communities.
EASE is a vital part of their journey. Taking the grant away would hurt students and South Florida's economic growth and future.
If we want to build a skilled and robust workforce in Florida, it starts with making sure students have access to the opportunities they've worked hard to earn.
Lawmakers should protect, preserve and ultimately enhance the EASE program because when students thrive, our community does as well.
Mike Allen is the president of Barry University in Miami Shores.