2020 Florida College Guide: 4 Schools You Should Consider

Florida Polytechnic University

4700 RESEARCH WAY, LAKELAND, FL 33805 | 863-583-9050 | FLORIDAPOLY.EDU

QUICK FACTS All degrees are 100% STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Only 21% of graduates have student debt, which averages LESS THAN $9,000. The library is home to an all-digital collection of more 150,000 FULL-TEXT E-BOOKS. Florida PolyCon, an all-inclusive celebration of geek culture, is held annually at the University. The stunning Innovation, Science, and Technology Building was designed by famed Spanish architect DR. SANTIAGO CALATRAVA.

Bold Positioning

Ranked nationally as one of the top 40 public undergraduate engineering colleges in 2021 among universities without the doctorate by US News & World Reports, Florida Poly is the only member of the State University System of Florida dedicated exclusively to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and the only top under-graduate engineering program in the state to appear in this category.

With more than 1,400 students, Florida Poly offers a unique environment where students work closely with faculty in a hands-on approach to learning. The University is selective with average SATs of 1330 and ACTs of 30, and 87% of eligible freshmen earn Bright Futures scholarships. The visually striking main academic centerpiece is a 162,000-square-foot building that is a moveable and functional work of art. Its louvered roof system moves throughout the day to provide passive lighting to the second-floor atrium while curved metal pergolas ring the exterior to shade its outer terrace and walkways. The building has won more than 23 global awards and was recently named among the most breathtaking buildings in the world.

Florida Poly holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and its computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering degrees are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET).

Forward-Thinking

The University offers 32 programs of study, all focused on hightech disciplines. Small class sizes and a project-based curriculum position Florida Poly to provide industry-aligned programs in fast-growing areas like autonomous vehicles, machine intelligence, cybersecurity, logistics and supply chain management, engineering physics, and renewable energy.

The University continues growing by expanding its programs and concentrations to continue building a prominent presence with high-paying industries in the region, as well as ongoing construction of another iconic building, the Applied Research Center (ARC). The ARC will have 90,000+ square feet of space to house research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices. A dedicated section of the center will assist with commercialization of innovation and applied research and send new inventions into the marketplace.

Industry-Minded

Creating strong partnerships with companies throughout Florida is another key to providing industry-aligned majors and fueling the state’s economy. That’s why the University constantly adds to the many internships already available to students to further enhance their world-class STEM education. Robust growth around the Florida Poly campus is also critical to bringing the University’s vision to life.

Today’s problems are complex and multi-dimensional, and economies grow best when they bring government, industry, and academia together to commercialize innovation. Planned research partnerships will be the catalyst for bringing financial and facility capital to the area and will feature new academic buildings on campus. Florida Poly’s Advanced Mobility Institute also looks forward to the completion of SunTrax, a large-scale, cutting-edge facility dedicated to the research, development, and testing of emerging transportation technologies in safe and controlled environments. SunTrax is a long-term partnership with Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and includes a 2.25-mile oval track on a 400-acre site near Florida Poly’s campus. It adds to Florida Poly’s focus on the rapidly evolving field of autonomous and connected vehicles. Its place as a leader in this area was demonstrated at the national level when Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president, testified before a Senate committee on autonomous vehicles.

Florida Polytechnic University has positioned itself to provide a world-class STEM education in a way that not only prepares students to productively enter the workforce, but also provides them with lifetime employable skills that have an immeasurable impact on the local and state economies.

Rollins College

1000 HOLT AVENUE, WINTER PARK, FL 32789 | 407.646.2000 | ROLLINS.EDU

At Rollins, we’re top ranked, but you’re No. 1. For 25 consecutive years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Rollins among the top two regional universities in the South. Our sun-soaked lakeside campus was named the No. 1 most beautiful in the nation, and our Crummer Graduate School of Business has been ranked the No. 1 MBA program in Florida. But the No. 1 we’re most proud of is the one that applies to you. Thanks to an average class size of just 17 students and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, you get the personalized attention you expect from one of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Rollins is built on a human scale. Here, you’ll find no overflowing auditoriums, boring lectures, or uninspired professors. At Rollins, our intimate and personalized learning environment is designed to maximize engagement. It’s about application over memorization, mentoring over lecturing, and hands-on research over data downloading. Our students are mentored and challenged by expert faculty every day, helping them develop their personal and professional passions and reach their life and career goals.

Rollins is a future-proof education. At a time when the careers of tomorrow have yet to be invented, our innovative, interdisciplinary education equips you with the expertise to succeed as the world evolves. Along the way, you’ll develop an array of 21st-century skills—from creative problem solving and critical thinking to collaborative teamwork and clear communication—that are not only in demand among today’s top employers, but also immune to the fast-paced fluctuations of our ever-evolving world.

Rollins is an education for the real world. Rollins is among the nation’s best at empowering our students to put their ideas to work in the world. Our students develop a competitive advantage in the job market through top internships in Orlando and beyond, and get a head-start on grad school by collaborating on original research with their professors. In fact, at Rollins, opportunities to hone academic learning in the real world are virtually limitless. Rollins is globally engaged. At Rollins, you’ll make an impact around the globe. After all, more than 70 percent of students study abroad. From semester and summer-long programs to faculty-led field studies, you’ll explore the world and test your ability to make it better.

Rollins is always investing in our mission. With such lofty accolades, some colleges might rest on their laurels—not Rollins.

We’re constantly investing in our mission to educate students for global citizenship and responsible leadership. Over the next two years, Rollins is investing more than $85 million into enhancing our students’ experience and ensuring their success after graduation. Rollins is an engine of opportunity. Everyone from respected publications to former university presidents rates Rollins a top value among the nation’s best colleges, and earlier this year Money.com named Rollins one of the nation’s best colleges for merit aid. Eighty-five percent of Rollins students receive financial aid, and each year our students have access to more than $55 million in state, federal, and institutional resources.

Use our Net Price Calculator to estimate your cost of attendance at rollins.college/npc. Rollins offers three paths to a transformative education. Rollins’ traditional full-time undergraduate day programs in the College of Liberal Arts combine top-ranked academics, a personalized approach to learning, and a vibrant student experience on one of America’s top college campuses. Rollins’ Hamilton Holt School offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs designed to fit the busy lives of nontraditional students. Rollins’ Crummer Graduate School of Business offers three unique and highly ranked MBA programs as well as the first accredited Executive DBA in Florida. Find your path at Rollins.

Seminole State College

100 WELDON BOULEVARD, SANFORD, FL 32773  | 407.708.4722 | SEMINOLESTATE.EDU

Get ready. This is could be the start of something big. What you have before your eyes is more than a snapshot of all that Seminole State College offers. It’s the beginning of all that’s possible. Designed to maximize opportunities and minimize obstacles, Seminole State has the classes, programs and resources to help you achieve the future you want. With seven bachelor’s degrees in high-demand, high growth fields; two-year university transfer/Associate in Arts (A.A.) and Associate in Science (A.S.) degrees, DirectConnect™ to UCF, or transfer to UF Online or another state university for Seminole State A.A. graduates, you can Go State, Go Far without breaking the bank. Our tuition is about half of what you’d pay at a state university. Financial aid and scholarships make us even more affordable. And each year, we award more than $1 million in institutional scholarships and more than $50 million in financial aid.

Flexibility and affordability are hallmarks of Seminole State, and in these times they’re a necessity for all students. We believe education is essential, and so is safety. In order to give you the best opportunity to succeed safely, we’re offering the ability to learn 100% online – regardless of degree or certificate – in the comfort of your home. For those who enjoy the traditional on-campus experience, you’ll be welcome and safe when we fully reopen our four Central Florida locations. Come back when you’re ready.

Seminole State takes a student-centered approach to education, which includes smaller classes averaging 27 students taught by doctorate and master’s level faculty with real-world and college teaching experience. And even though classes might look and feel a little bit different, you can count on us to facilitate an engaging and collaborative environment. Learning may be mostly virtual, but your experience will be 100% real.

Interact and learn with like-minded students who share your passion and commitment, and have some fun, too. With over 50 clubs and organizations, student government, leadership and career development, intramural and recreational sports, volunteer opportunities, and arts, music and theater events, you’ll have no shortage of ways to connect and bond with your peers at Seminole State.

Our ultimate desire is to ensure your college life is as well rounded and rewarding as possible – no matter the environment. And we are with you every step of the way so you can Go State, Go Far!

Webster University Orlando

501 W Church St, Orlando, FL 32805| Phone (407) 563-4770 | webster.edu/orlando

We are just one block from the home of the Orlando Magic basketball team, within walking distance from many major downtown corporations, the Anway Center, and only blocks away from the Creative Village educational hub. The new location is centrally located at the intersection of I-4 and Hwy. 408. Students find the location, small class sizes and individual attention result in better networking opportunities and successful learning outcomes within their profession or local community.

Webster’s downtown Orlando location boasts 11 state-of-the-art classrooms, 2 computer labs, 2 conference rooms with breakout spaces and video conferencing capabilities for WebNet+ classes. Webster University offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students in Florida and across the world. With opportunities to study in Orlando or earn a degree online, academic programs are focused on student success and taught by faculty with professional experience in their academic fields.

Webster personalizes education to meet students’ specific goals and schedule demands, while they’re maintaining full-time employment or actively serving in the military. In Orlando and around the world, Webster University is recognized as a leader in global education and a pioneer in adult and military education. Webster provides innovative academic programs that will help cultivate future talent and further enhance the growing tech sector in Orlando.

Webster University Orlando campus location offers:

• Webster’s new Master of Business Administration (MBA) program gives students the business skills they need to develop and implement value creating ideas and solutions. It’s designed for professionals who want to shape their own career, upgrade credentials, and be strategic players in the world of business. Classes meet once a week over nine weeks for two hours in the classroom. The remaining hours of learning are done online asynchronously each week.
• The new Master of Science in Cybersecurity, which is in high demand for IT Security Specialists, and our Master of Arts in Information Technology Management program are designed to educate and develop professionals who can effectively manage the planning, design, selection, implementation, use, and administration of emerging and converging information and communications technologies. You will learn how to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.
• Designed with the SHRM guidelines and topics in mind to develop specific competencies and decision-making skills, our Master of Arts Human Resources Management is designed to provide a comprehensive coverage of the major human resource responsibilities, addressing both strategic and operational aspects.
• New course options for Master of Arts in Counseling program includes a pathway for School Guidance Counseling certification in Florida, as well as Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate degrees.
• Classes that meet once a week for nine weeks allowing students to concentrate on one course at a time.
• No GRE or GMAT required
• Fully accredited non-profit university