Leading with Excellence in STEM Education

Florida Polytechnic University is a dynamic institution designed to aggressively push the limits of core STEM education. With industry-driven programs, leading faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities, the University is building a strong pipeline of in-demand, high-skilled STEM professionals prepared to innovate and take on the high-tech challenges of tomorrow.

ADVOCATES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

Florida Poly is a growing institution, and its robust educational programming is fueling significant progress and recognition. For the second year in a row, the University was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top engineering colleges in the U.S. and as the No. 1 college in the Southern region. These rankings and many others are emblematic of the University’s growing reputation in academia, alongside some of the best-known institutions in the country.

“Students and parents are looking for quality, in-demand degrees that will prepare graduates for lifetime employability and exceptional careers, but they also want affordability.”

Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment management

The University’s outstanding rankings are only one example of Florida Poly’s growth and success. More students than ever are applying to attend the institution, up 31% in the fall of 2022 and up 101% since 2019.

“As Florida Poly’s reputation as a top STEM university continues to grow, people across the country increasingly are taking notice,” said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment management. “Students and parents are looking for quality, in-demand degrees that will prepare graduates for lifetime employability and exceptional careers, but they also want affordability. Our modest tuition, together with financial aid and scholarships, is very attractive for many highly talented students who want to succeed as high-tech professionals.”

This is evidenced by the academic background and achievements of those students attending the school. In the fall of 2022, admitted students had an average SAT score of 1355 – the highest average in the University’s history – and an average ACT score of 30. Additionally, 95% of first-time-in-college students had completed calculus or pre-calculus in high school, setting them up for success.

“Our leading-edge curriculum and deliberately small classes are a proven combination to support student success,” said Dr. Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president. “The outstanding achievements of our students and alumni in industry and beyond are solid proof.”

“Having the opportunity to work on a variety of projects that were oriented toward my interests allowed me to immerse myself in an environment where I really embraced my passions and enhanced my skillset. Florida Poly provided me with the resources that made it very easy for me to find what I loved and wanted to do.”

Chelsea Reeves '19

STEM FOCUS YIELDS OUTSTANDING RESULTS

According to the new educational research and comparison tool MyFloridaFuture, released by the State University System of Florida in 2022, Florida Poly’s graduates earn an average of $57,900 one year after graduation, the highest among all state universities.

“The quality of our programs is not only strong, but extremely relevant as we see our graduates being placed in positions with very high salaries,” Corpus said. “However, it’s not just about high salaries. Many of the brightest students want to be here because they see the opportunity to make an impact and change the world with our STEM disciplines in the small, more intimate environment we provide.”

This was a strong consideration for Vladjimir Nicolas, a freshman from Pembroke Pines, Florida, studying software engineering.

“Florida Poly is great because everything here is geared toward STEM, and because it’s a small school, they can cater to students a lot, too,” Nicolas said. “It’s one of the best STEM schools I can go to for my major in the area, and I’m not too far from home.”

As Florida’s only 100% STEM university, Florida Poly has strategically built its nimble, leading-edge curriculum on a foundation of engineering and applied sciences to successfully meet the and keep pace with the needs of high-tech industry.

“At Florida Poly, we are producing that critical talent needed to grow the tech industry in our state and beyond.” – Dr. Randy K. Avent, Florida Poly’s president

TARGETED GROWTH DRIVES UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Because Florida Poly is a deliberately small, selective school, it can carefully grow its award-winning campus in concert with its rising number of talented students.

The campus recently opened its new 90,000+ square-foot Applied Research Center, expanding its research capabilities and strengthening its position as a premier STEM institution. The new space allows for world-class faculty to conduct advanced research with research opportunities offered to undergraduate students, instead of only to graduate students.

“Having the opportunity to work on a variety of projects that were oriented toward my interests allowed me to immerse myself in an environment where I really embraced my passions and enhanced my skillset,” said Chelsea Reeves, ’19, an electrical engineering graduate and product development engineer at Arthrex, a global orthopedic medical device company. “Florida Poly provided me with the resources that made it very easy for me to find what I loved and wanted to do.”

Florida Poly also is proving itself as a magnet for high-tech industry. The University attracted Fortune 500 company IFF to build its cutting-edge Global Citrus Innovation Center on campus, creating new opportunities in research and career pathways for students. The new IFF building also represents the first step in the creation of an anticipated research park that one day will be anchored by the University.

“Technical research universities like Florida Poly are an attraction for companies that want access to the in-demand, high-wage graduates the schools produce,” Avent said. “At Florida Poly, we are producing that critical talent needed to grow the tech industry in our state and beyond.”

Additionally, the University is preparing to build a state-of-the-art residence hall to be ready in the fall of 2024, and a new engineering and leadership building.

This content was paid for and created by Florida Polytechnic University. The editorial staff at The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.