FLORIDA TREND reached out to all 12 public universities about the H-1B hiring pause and its potential effects for this report. The University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, New College of Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University declined to comment. Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of West Florida did not respond to repeated interview requests as of press time.
Here's what the remaining schools had to say:
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Polytechnic University — the state's youngest and only STEM-focused public university — currently employs 12 H-1B visa holders across its applied mathematics, computer science, data science and engineering programs. Their pay is "competitive and aligned with market standards, not visa status," Provost Brad Thiessen said in an emailed statement.
"When we hire an H-1B visa holder, it's because we judge them to be the most qualified candidates available, often bringing highly specialized expertise that strengthens our academic programs," he continued. "While H-1B visas can be one pathway for recruiting highly specialized talent, they represent a relatively small share of our hires, so we do not expect the temporary pause to significantly affect our hiring plans."
So far, the university hasn't seen any effect on its international relationships. "We remain confident in our global engagement moving forward," Thiessen said.
University of North Florida
At the University of North Florida, most faculty hiring for fall 2026 was already underway when the H-1B visa pause was adopted. "We were able to successfully find qualified candidates for the positions in accordance with Florida Board of Governor regulations," university spokesperson Amanda Ennis told FLORIDA TREND in an email.
University of South Florida
"USF is working to determine the implementation process of the revision, which does not apply to existing employees," the university said in a statement. "As a state university, USF follows Florida laws and regulations established by the BOG."
Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University said school leadership is actively assessing potential effects of the hiring pause and exploring strategies to "ensure continuity in instruction, research productivity and student outcomes" while complying with state guidance.
"As a public, land-grant institution with a strong emphasis on STEM education and research, FAMU relies on a highly qualified and globally competitive talent pool to support faculty excellence and student success," the university said in a statement. "While we are appreciative that current H-1B employees may continue through renewal processes, the pause on new hires presents potential challenges in recruiting specialized faculty in high-demand disciplines where the national pipeline remains limited."