Gov. Rick Scott's higher education task force tentatively agreed on recommendations that include basing tuition on the type of degree a student is seeking and letting "preeminent universities" set higher rates.
Charging different tuition rates for various degree programs could be used to encourage students to enter those fields deemed to be of strategic importance to the state's needs and economy by offering lower rates.
The Sun Sentinel reports that as part of that plan, students majoring in fields such as psychology, political science, anthropology and performing arts could pay more because they have fewer job prospects in the state. Meanwhile, students who major in fields like science, technology, engineering and math would pay less because those degrees are most needed in the state's economy.
Then panel also tentatively agreed to recommend that tuition not be increased for the next three years, or until the state's unemployment rate drops below 7 percent, for degrees in high-skill, high-demand or high-wage areas. The state's unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in September.