The Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program was created by the Florida Legislature and took effect in the Fall 2021 semester. Under this program, resident undergraduate students who are enrolled in eligible programs will receive a tuition waiver for portions of their tuition and fee invoice under certain circumstances. This program is often referred to as the "buy-one-get-one" waiver, meaning that for each qualifying course for which a student enrolls, they receive another course of equal or lesser value at a discount.
FSU PC Program Eligibility
- Accounting
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Programming & Applications
- Computer Science BA
- Computer Science BS
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Elementary Education BS
Student Eligibility
In order to qualify for the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program, students must be certain eligibility criteria:
- Students must be Florida residents for tuition purposes (in-state residency).
- Students must have earned at least 60 semester credit hours toward a their first baccalaureate degree within 2 academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public post-secondary institution.
- Students must be enrolled and accepted into one of eight Programs of Strategic Emphasis as adopted by the Board of Governors. This program must be the student's primary major.
- Learn more about the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the waiver?
There is no application for the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program. FSU will identify eligible students based on academic records, major, and enrollment each term and will automatically apply the waiver to student accounts. If you feel that you meet eligibility requirements, but were not automatically identified for the waiver, then please contact the Office of the University Registrar (registrar@fsu.edu) to request a manual review.
When will the waiver apply to my invoice?
Because the waiver is based on enrollment, Student Business Services might not apply the waiver until after the drop/add window for the term has closed, typically during the second week of classes.
What happens if I change my schedule?
Because the waiver is covering 50% of applicable fees for eligible classes, the waiver might adjust with schedule changes that impact your tuition/fee assessment. Changes to your waiver might take a little time to reflect on your FSU bill, especially if you change your schedule after drop/add.
What happens if I change majors?
Eligibility is determined at the time that the waiver is applied to student accounts. If a major change occurs after the waiver is posted the student may lose eligibility for future terms, but the change will not affect the current term.
What if I'm double-majoring?
As long as the student's primary major is included in the list of CIPs the student's academic schedule will qualify for the waiver, even for courses that are not technically part of the primary major, but satisfy requirements for the secondary.
How does the waiver affect my financial aid eligibility?
Like all resources, the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver will reduce your overall need which may result in a reduction of need-based scholarships, grants, and loans.