New College of Florida, the small liberal arts school reshaped under Gov. Ron DeSantis’s higher-education agenda, is set to expand dramatically through a state budget deal that transfers the University of South Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College.
The move would significantly increase New College’s physical footprint and student capacity. USF Sarasota-Manatee is a 32-acre campus serving roughly 2,000 students, while New College currently enrolls fewer than 1,000. The Sarasota-Manatee site includes academic buildings, a recently built residential hall and facilities tied to programs that local students and business leaders say are important to the region.
The transfer is part of Florida’s 2026–27 state budget agreement. USF said lawmakers agreed to adopt the governor’s proposal to transfer facilities at the Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College, while USF will retain more than $22 million in recurring operating funds linked to the campus. USF said those funds will allow the university to keep faculty and staff and complete a teach-out period for current students whose home campus is Sarasota-Manatee.
That promise has not ended the controversy. Students, faculty members, local officials and business leaders have warned that the transfer could damage access to affordable higher education in the Sarasota-Manatee region. Critics say the campus serves a different student population than New College and offers practical degree programs, including fields tied to nursing, tourism, hospitality and local workforce needs.
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USF President Moez Limayem acknowledged the uncertainty in a public statement, saying the loss of the campus creates anxiety for faculty, staff and students. He said current students will have the opportunity to complete their USF degrees during the transition period.
Opponents argue that the deal was pushed through in a way that avoided full public debate. A proposal to transfer the campus had previously moved through parts of the Legislature but appeared to stall before later being revived through the budget process. Florida Democrats have criticized the maneuver, with House Democratic leader Fentrice Driskell calling the proposal a “grift” during debate.
Supporters of the change say New College’s growth could strengthen the region and help build a distinctive public liberal arts institution. New College President Richard Corcoran has said the school is prepared to manage the transition carefully and work with regional leaders, faculty and community partners.
The dispute is closely tied to DeSantis’s broader effort to remake New College. In 2023, the governor replaced members of the school’s board and turned the institution into a national symbol of his campaign against what he called “woke” higher education. The shift brought new leadership, new academic priorities and intense national attention.
Critics say the makeover has been costly and politically driven. A state efficiency review previously found New College had one of the highest costs per degree in Florida’s university system. Opponents argue that expanding the school by taking over a functioning USF campus rewards a project that has not yet proven it can grow efficiently on its own.
For Sarasota-Manatee students, the concern is more immediate. Many chose the campus because it was local, affordable and tied to specific career programs. If those programs end after the teach-out period, future students may have fewer nearby options.
The transfer is expected to take effect as Florida’s new budget year begins, though the long-term academic future of the Sarasota-Manatee campus remains uncertain. The fight is likely to continue as students and faculty watch how New College uses the site and whether a future governor or Legislature attempts to revisit the decision.
Why It Matters
The New College expansion matters because it shows how Florida’s higher-education policy has become part of a larger political battle. Supporters see the transfer as a chance to grow a conservative-leaning public liberal arts model, while critics say it risks weakening a regional campus that served local workforce and student needs.
What Comes Next
USF is expected to continue teaching current Sarasota-Manatee students through a transition period, while New College prepares to take control of campus facilities. Opponents may continue pressing lawmakers and future state leaders to reverse or revise the transfer, especially if local programs are reduced or eliminated.
