Higher Education

Whether one's educational goal is to obtain an undergraduate degree, complete the requirements for an MBA, or pursue a doctorate degree, the First Coast offers ample opportunities for attaining higher education.

Residents of Northeast Florida will find a variety of secondary education options throughout the region. Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) is the second largest community college in the state and the fifth largest granter of associate degrees in the nation. FCCJ ranked No. 1 in the nation by the Center for Digital Education for its outstanding information technology services and was one of Converge's top 50 community colleges in the country based on awareness and progress.

The “Princeton Review” placed the University of North Florida (UNF) fifth in its 2007 edition of the ”Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges.” In addition, UNF was ranked as one of the top Southern universities for master’s programs in the annual U.S. News & World Report’s 2005 “America’s Best Colleges” report. UNF promotes individualized instruction, boasting a 22-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Jacksonville University, a private, independent institution, combines the advantages of a liberal arts college with the strengths of a comprehensive university. The University offers a personal approach to higher education, emphasizing the development of leadership skills and global perspective through student research, citizenship and community service. With its low student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, JU has been named one of “America’s Best Colleges” for the fourth consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2008.”

Florida Coastal School of Law leads the state of Florida in Bar passages, with 81.9 percent of first-time takers passing the exam.

In 2006, Northeast Florida welcomed the Art Institute of Jacksonville, a branch of the Miami International University of Art and Design, and one of 38 schools nationally. “The institute provides bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts and associate of arts degree programs and is the only school in the area to offer a bachelor of arts in culinary management.”

“From the first day of school, our students receive hands-on training in their field at The Art Institute of Jacksonville,” said Erika Orris, president of The Art Institute. ”For graduates to compete in today’s workforce, it’s critical that they obtain real-life experience so they’re able to hit the ground running when they enter the working world.”

Edward Waters College (EWC) is a private Historically Black College (HBCU) in Jacksonville. We offer small class sizes, individual attention, diverse social activities and a rolling enrollment policy, which encourages our students to see the possibilities in their future.

Northeast Florida also has a variety of technical and vocational schools to choose from including ITT Technical Institute, Tulsa Welding School and the Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville.