Eckerd College in St. Petersburg ranks in the top tier of U.S. News & World Report's list of best liberal arts schools. Founded in 1958, the college offers bachelor's degree programs in 38 majors, with marine biology and environmental studies among students' top picks. The college's Galbraith Marine Science Lab is set on the edge of Boca Ciega Bay. Students rank the 188-acre waterfront campus as one of the school's best assets, especially with its private beach equipped with hammocks. Approximately 1,860 students are enrolled each year at Eckerd, and the faculty to students ratio is 14 to 1.
College guides consistently rank Sarasota's New College among the top five public liberal arts colleges in the country. Founded as a private college in 1960, as of 2011 the school is an independent link in Florida's state university system. With fewer than 800 students, New College has been able to maintain its original mission of student-driven programs and academic achievement. The college encourages independent study and original research in all disciplines and does not use a traditional grading system. Instead, faculty members evaluate each student's performance in a written narrative. New College awards bachelor degrees in humanities and natural and social sciences in 32 academic areas.
Founded in 1927, St Petersburg College evolved from a two-year private college into a public institution offering bachelor degree programs in high-demand fields such as technology management, nursing, education and international banking. St. Petersburg College offers Florida's only bachelor of science degree program in dental hygiene. Five campuses in the Tampa Bay area provide educational opportunities to 63,000 students pursing bachelor and associate degrees, professional certificates and educational enrichment through non-credit courses. St. Petersburg has fostered the city's cultural life with its downtown arts center, a space it shares with several professional arts organizations. The college also offers several on-campus art galleries and performances spaces for music and dance.
More than 12,000 students are enrolled in a variety of degree and certificate programs at Edison State College's main campus in Fort Myers and its two satellite campuses in Punta Gorda and Naples. Named after American inventor Thomas Edison, the school was launched in the early '60s as part of the state's community college system. It has since expanded and, as of 2011, awards bachelor's degrees in education, nursing, management, public safety administration and cardiopulmonary science. Associate degree and certificate programs also reflect the college's strengths in those fields. Edison State does not offer any campus housing, but students are usually able to find affordable rentals in Fort Myers.
Northwest Florida State College's main campus is located in Niceville, a coastal city in the middle of the panhandle. The college also operates six branch campuses throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties.The majority of the college's 13,000 students enrolled in academic programs pursue professional certificates and associate degrees geared toward the medical, technology and management fields. The college also awards bachelor degrees in nursing, education and management.
The college also added a new arts center to its main campus. In addition to hosting performances and exhibits by students and local arts organizations, the fine arts department uses the center as a training site for students working toward degrees in music and theater technology.