The Bright Futures Scholarship testing program currently requires all scholarship recipients to make at least five acceleration attempts. The program can produce savings, but only if students pass the tests and use the credits earned to graduate more quickly from college. However, students graduating from Florida public universities in 2001-02 used only 51% of the CLEP credits they had earned. If Bright Futures recipients use a similar percentage, the program's costs will outweigh its financial benefits.
Voluntary CLEP testing would reduce state costs while still encouraging students to use the CLEP testing program to accelerate their graduation. In addition, the Legislature should require students who take more than 115% of the credits required for their degree to pay for the full cost of tuition. This will save the state $30 million by reducing the number of extra courses taken and/or increasing tuition revenues from excess credits.

Legislature Increases FRAG Awards; Residency Determination Rules Improved
Report 06-57 August 2006
The State Has Several Options Available When Considering the Funding of Higher Education
Report 04-54 August 2004
Stronger Financial Incentives Could Encourage Students to Graduate With Fewer Excess Hours
Report 04-44 June 2004
Private Colleges and Universities Program Department of Education
Report 03-70 December 2003

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.