This Thursday is the Florida Association of Universities 2025 Success Summit, where Helios Educational Foundation and the Association of Florida Colleges and Universities (AFC) will release an economic impact report that reveals how Florida’s 28 state universities generate billions in additional income, revenue and savings for students, taxpayers and the state.
Chancellor Georgia Lorenz, chair of the University of Florida System Council of Presidents and leader of Seminole State University, will present new data showing this will have a positive economic impact on local governments.
“Together, Florida’s universities contribute more than $56 billion to our state’s economy and support 1 in 24 jobs,” President Lorenz said.
Some of the insights shared:
How the University of Florida System fosters economic growth and workforce readiness.
Why affordability and access remain a top priority for our students and community.
The system’s role as a “bridge to opportunity” for Floridians.
The report, released this week, will show how the University of Florida System is driving economic growth, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and delivering high returns on investment for individuals, communities and Florida’s economy.
The University of Florida System is a vital driver of opportunity in our state. Florida’s universities admit more than 650,000 students each year, making post-high school education accessible to students from all parts of the state. This creates a ripple effect that strengthens communities that have historically been underserved by economic development, builds a strong talent pipeline for the workforce, and fosters long-term prosperity for local businesses and the state. This new report quantifies that impact and shows how Florida’s universities generate billions of dollars in economic benefits for Floridians.
The Helios Education Foundation exists to support higher education attainment for all students in Arizona and Florida, with a special focus on low-income and historically underrepresented communities. Driven by our core beliefs of community, equity, investment, and partnership, Helios has invested more than $350 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving educational outcomes in the two states we serve. For more information, please visit helios.org.
