President Tim Cost began his tenure as the president of Jacksonville University in 2013. In summer 2026, he will switch to a new role.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville University is nearing the end of an era.
After 14 years in the role, President Tim Cost will be stepping down in summer 2026, the university announced Tuesday.
While he won’t be president, Cost will stay with the school in another important role as chancellor, where he will focus on external business like partnerships, fundraising, alumni, community and government relations.
JU said the transition was planned and agreed to with the Board of Trustees in 2022.
“President Cost’s exemplary leadership over the past 14 years has transformed our University in remarkable ways,” said Jacksonville University Board Chair John Miller. “Under his guidance, we’ve enjoyed growth in undergraduate and graduate enrollment, developed countless strategic partnerships in and outside of our community, and elevated our profile both in the region and beyond. The Board is grateful for his extraordinary commitment as President and his dedication to students, and we are confident he will help further advance our mission and expand our impact as Chancellor.”
Details have not yet been released, but a new presidential search will be directed by the Board of Trustees.
The private university, located in Arlington, was founded in 1934. Cost in the 12th person to serve as Jacksonville University’s president and the first to be an alumni; he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1981 before taking office in 2013. Prior to his presidency, Cost focused on his business career as a senior executive at companies like PepsiCo, ARAMARK, and Centocor/Johnson & Johnson.
Under his leadership, JU has expanded its colleges and programs. The school’s College of Law opened in Downtown Jacksonville in 2022, and construction is now underway on the area’s first four-year medical school: LECOM at Jacksonville University. The school also attributes its greater recognition on the world stage to Cost’s leadership; the school received its highest U.S. News & World Report rankings and its first-ever inclusion in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Forbes Top 500 U.S. Universities.
“The senior executive talent here is deep and ready, and the time is right to transition to Chancellor,” said Tim Cost in Tuesday’s news release. “I will now focus externally on relationships to open new doors for students and to build an even better University. We welcome this opportunity to continue to serve, and we will always be fully committed to our culture of excellence.”
Cost’s leadership decisions have not all been without controversy. In April, the school announced the layoffs of approximately 40 faculty members and the ending of dozens of degree programs with lesser enrollment and demand. The decision resulted in student protests and a ‘no confidence’ vote from JU faculty.
In fall 2024, the school had 4,200 enrolled students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. Some of its largest fields of study include nursing, aviation, business, and varying sciences.