TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

Florida students whose parents do not have four-year college degrees could get need-based financial aid under a $6.5 million scholarship program recently signed into law. 

Although students of any race can apply, lawmakers hope it will increase minority enrollment at Florida universities.

The Legislature passed the First Generation Matching Grant Program after Black enrollment declined last year at the state’s 11 public universities. Supporters say a disproportionate number of minority high school graduates cannot afford college.

Gov. Jeb Bush signed the bill into law during a ceremony at Florida A&M University, where students had worked with his office to help craft the legislation sponsored by Sen. Al. Lawson, D-Tallahassee.

Bush earlier in the week signed another bill that would create a similar program for community college students at a cost of $5 million.

“The work we’ve done thus far is good, but it is not by any means enough,” says FAMU graduate student Keneshia Grant. “Need-based aid must continue to increase every year.”

Grant spearheaded student support as a member of Bush’s Access and Diversity Commission.

The amount of each scholarship cannot exceed the annual cost of attendance, which averages $15,000 per year including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board and incidental living expenses, says Bill Edmonds, a spokesman for the state’s university system. Awards would be based on the how much a student needs after applying any other scholarships or grants.

Lawson praised Bush for seeking the legislation in his public remarks, but he later said the drop in Black enrollment was due at least in part to the governor’s decision to prohibit affirmative action in university admissions six years ago.

Lawson says affirmative action opponents nationally have claimed eliminating race-based admissions criteria would not reduce minority enrollment.