Higher Education
Universities at the forefront of knowledge creation and innovation; colleges and training institutions that keep workforce ahead of the curve with cutting-edge of skills and expertise: North Central Florida’s higher education is changing the world, supporting better business and creating better lives.
State Universities: Expanding Knowledge and Opportunity.
Advancing the boundaries of knowledge as they prepare the knowledge workforce of tomorrow, Florida’s universities, including two Carnegie-classified R-1 (Very High Research) institutions, are moving the economy forward with world-class research and degree programs informed by a multidisciplinary approach and commercial perspectives that drive bench-to-bedside research.
-
University of Florida: Rated the #1 public university in the nation by the Wall Street Journal, UF plays hard on the field with the fearsome Gators and leads in academic and research fields as a Carnegie-designated R-1 university where faculty conducted a record $1.25 billion in research in 2023.
-
Florida State University: Also an R-1 institution, FSU attracts the best; average ACT composite scores for the 2024 freshman class was 31, average SAT was 1390. The school offers 279 degree programs in sciences, arts, technology and professions.
-
Florida A & M University: For five consecutive years U.S. News’ highest ranked public HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities), Florida A&M is also an HBCU Fulbright Leader, and the National Science Foundation’s #1 ranked HBCU for Research and Development.
-
University of North Florida: Individualized attention along with internships and real-world experiences create excellent career prospects for students right here at home: UNF is #1 in the State University System for graduates employed in Florida.
State, Community and Technical Institutions: Expanding the Talent Pipeline.
A key driver of North Central Florida’s high-performance talent pipeline is the region’s concentrated network of top-quality institutions. Both two and four-degrees and certification programs are aligned to industry needs, from supply chain to tech to manufacturing to healthcare. Institutions include:
Technical Institutions
State Colleges