Florida Prepaid College Plan

FGCU bills Florida Prepaid each semester based on the number of credit hours you are enrolled in after the first drop/add period. The Tuition & Fee rate at FGCU is made up of several individual per‑credit charges. Some of these charges are considered Tuition, while others are classified as Fees. For Florida Prepaid purposes, these charges fall into four categories: Tuition Fees, Local Fees, Tuition Differential, and University Fees. The chart below outlines each per‑credit fee category and whether it is covered by Florida Prepaid. Because Florida Prepaid does not cover every fee category, most students will have some remaining balance to pay out of pocket.

The Florida Prepaid Dormitory Plan covers the cost of a standard, double‑occupancy, air‑conditioned dorm room at any State University in Florida. At FGCU, this corresponds to a 2‑bedroom double, and Florida Prepaid pays a flat $2,642.00 per semester toward your housing. You may choose to live in a different room type; however, the Dormitory Plan will still pay the flat $2,642.00 amount, and you will be responsible for any remaining balance out of pocket.

FGCU matches your Florida Prepaid account using your Social Security Number (SSN) and Date of Birth (DOB). If either of these identifiers does not match what Florida Prepaid has on file, the system cannot link your account, and your benefits will not appear in the Bill & Payment Center. Once the information is corrected with FGCU or Florida Prepaid, your benefits will post as expected.

Once FGCU begins calculating Florida Prepaid benefits for the term and your plan successfully matches, an email notification will be sent to your FGCU student email. Students with both Tuition and Dormitory plans will receive two separate notifications, one for each plan type.

You will first see your Florida Prepaid benefit listed under Estimated Financial Aid in your Bill & Payment Center. This amount may adjust as your registration changes. After the add/drop period ends, FGCU will submit the billing to Florida Prepaid on your behalf. Once the funds are received, the estimated amount will be removed and a Florida Prepaid payment will appear under Account Activity.

If your Florida Prepaid benefit is not showing in your Bill & Payment Center, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

• Timing: You must be enrolled for the term, and Tuition & Fees must have begun posting for that term. If either of these has not occurred yet, the benefit will not appear.
• Matching Issue: FGCU matches your Florida Prepaid account using your Social Security Number (SSN) and Date of Birth (DOB). If either identifier is incorrect at FGCU or Florida Prepaid, your account will not match.
  For assistance, contact Student Account Services at sas@fgcu.edu and include your name and UIN. Do not email your SSN under any circumstances, as this violates FGCU’s restricted data policy.
• Account Standing or Holds: If your Florida Prepaid account is not in good standing or has a hold, your benefit will not match. Please contact Florida Prepaid for assistance at help@myfloridaprepaid.com or 800‑552‑4723.
• Unsure of the Issue: If you are unsure why your benefit is not appearing, Student Account Services is happy to help. Email sas@fgcu.edu for support.

If you choose not to use your Florida Prepaid benefits for a specific term, you must submit a Non‑Usage of Florida Prepaid form for that term. This form must be submitted to Student Account Services by the Tuition & Fee Payment Deadline listed on the Academic Calendar.

Florida Prepaid offers two types of college savings options, and they work very differently. Tuition and Dormitory Plans are prepaid, “guaranteed plans” - families lock in future tuition or housing costs at today’s rates, and Florida Prepaid pays FGCU directly based on the plan purchased. In contrast, Florida Prepaid Investment Plans (Florida 529 Savings Plans) are investment‑based accounts. Families save money over time, the account grows with the market, and funds can be used for a wide range of qualified educational expenses. These plans are flexible but do not guarantee coverage of future tuition or housing costs. For this plan type, the account holder must request a payment, which is typically issued to the University in the form of a check.

You will see your Florida Prepaid benefit listed under Estimated Financial Aid in your Bill & Payment Center. This amount may change as your registration updates. After the add/drop period ends, FGCU will bill Florida Prepaid on your behalf. Once the funds are received, the estimated amount will be removed and a Florida Prepaid payment will appear under Account Activity. While the benefit is listed as estimated, it is updated regularly and included when calculating your balance. As long as your Florida Prepaid appears in the Estimated Financial Aid section, you are only responsible for paying any remaining balance. The benefit will stay in estimated status until the add/drop period concludes, after which the payment will post once funds are received.

The Bill & Payment Center main page shows an overview of your account, including your Account Balance, Estimated Financial Aid, and Account Balance Including Estimated Financial Aid. Any pending Florida Prepaid benefits, whether Tuition or Dormitory, will appear under Estimated Financial Aid. The Account Balance Including Estimated Financial Aid reflects what you owe out‑of‑pocket for the semester.

To view the details that make up this balance, go to Account Activity. This page has two sections:

• Top section: Estimated Financial Aid
  This shows all pending items, including Florida Prepaid, student loans, grants, waivers, scholarships, and third‑party billings.
• Bottom section: Posted Charges and Payments
  This shows all charges and payments that have officially posted. The date next to each charge is its due date; the date next to each payment is the date it posted.

The difference between the top section (pending items) and the bottom section (posted items) represents the amount you are responsible for paying out‑of‑pocket. If you are unsure what you owe or what you need to pay, please email sas@fgcu.edu for assistance.

Based on Social Security Number (SSN) legislation Student Account Services at Florida Gulf Coast University may still collect and use SSN's on a limited basis. Per F.S. 119.071(6)(b) SSN's can be supplied if it is necessary for the receiving agency to perform its duties or responsibilities. Student Account Services may use SSN's for the following activities:

1. Florida Prepaid Billing
2. Third Party Billing
3. Third Party Collections
4. Student Tax Documents (1098-T, 1042-S)