The New Leader in STEM Education
Florida Polytechnic University
Bringing together exceptional STEM education and industry readiness
The secret is out about Florida Polytechnic University. Top students from around the state and across the country are choosing the growing institution as the best place to earn the high-quality STEM degrees they need for the in-demand tech careers of today and tomorrow.
In the last several years, the University has thoughtfully built its programs to decisively meet the needs of industry. Today, Florida Poly enjoys national attention as one of the top engineering colleges in the country and the number one college in the South, according to U.S News and World Report’s 2022 rankings. With renowned professors, exceptional facilities, and a nimble curriculum dedicated to hands-on exploration, Florida Poly is transforming the way STEM education meets career readiness.
Where the brightest minds go to grow
While other Universities may have struggled with declining enrollment in recent years, Florida Poly has welcomed ever-growing numbers of talented students from across the country. The average GPA among admitted freshmen for the fall 2022 semester is 4.2, with an average SAT score of 1360 and ACT score of 29.
“We are proud to be the school of choice for some of the most academically gifted students in the country,” said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, vice provost for enrollment at Florida Poly. “The rigor focus of our core STEM programs, top faculty, ,and Florida Poly’s affordability mean our students begin their academic careers focused and motivated to succeed both in the classroom and after graduation.”
Florida Poly students thrive on a statewide and national scale in robotics tournaments, entrepreneurial competitions, and hackathons, shining a spotlight on both themselves and the institution as they do.
After graduation, Florida Poly alumni are known for putting their hands-on education to work on day one, earning the highest starting salary of any public university in Florida. Graduates earn a median salary of $57,900 one year after graduation, according to the most recent data. The University’s focus on current and emerging high-tech industries provides a trained and relevant workforce ready to fill the thousands of professional vacancies in the fields of engineering and technology.
Recent graduates are enjoying high-paying careers with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Emerson, The Walt Disney Company, and 3M.
“The education I received was foundational. Almost everything practical I did at Florida Poly, including lab work and coursework, has been relevant in my job. The first three years of your education are just as important as the last year,” said Luis Garcia ’19, an electrical engineering graduate who now is a design engineer at managed IT services company Corserva in Orlando, Florida.
Guided by STEM experts
Florida Poly’s agile curriculum relies on the dedication of expert faculty who remain engaged and up to date on the latest trends in their academic specialties. In 2021, two renowned leaders in their fields were hired to lead academic departments at the University.
Dr. Bruce Jacob, chair of the Department of Electric and Computer Engineering, is internationally recognized as a leading expert on computer memory systems and founded the annual International Symposium on Memory Systems. The Harvard-educated academic was a professor at the University of Maryland for 25 years and designs computer system architectures and computer memory system architectures for both industry and government.
Dr. Michael Brilleslyper, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics, joined Florida Poly after 21 years at the Air Force Academy where he served as division chief in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, among other positions. He is a nationally recognized thought leader in mathematics and has provided strategic training and curricular expertise for faculty at all levels within the field.
Additionally, three Florida Poly professors were recognized in 2021 as being among the top 2% of scientists in the world. Alongside others who are earning patents, exploring new technologies, and expanding research in cutting-edge areas such as autonomous and connected vehicle technology, Florida Poly faculty members are dedicated to providing one-on-one guidance and research experience for students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dr. Bruce Jacob, chair of the Department of Electric and Computer Engineering (left); Dr. Michael Brilleslyper, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics (right)
Dr. Bruce Jacob, chair of the Department of Electric and Computer Engineering (left); Dr. Michael Brilleslyper, chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics (right)
Building industry leaders through hands-on learning
Students participate in a rigorous, flexible curriculum that rapidly responds to emerging industry needs. With a focus on project-based learning, Florida Poly students internalize their education by going beyond the textbook to learn by doing.
The University prioritizes industry partnerships, developing the high-skill workforce needed now to grow into the jobs of the future. Every student completes an internship, gaining relevant experience that guides their career development.
The Capstone Design Program pairs teams of seniors across disciplines with corporate sponsors seeking a solution to real-world problems. One team, partnering with the Florida Space Institute, is working to develop a planetary rover that could one day traverse the terrain of Mars.
The new Health Systems Engineering program prepares students to take on the healthcare system’s most urgent and complex challenges while Florida Poly’s Nuclear Propulsion Pipeline Program, the first of its kind in the nation, prepares students for the Navy’s prestigious Nuclear Propulsion Office Candidate Program.
Recognizing the Florida Poly Difference
As Florida Poly continues to grow, attracting standout students and leading faculty to its iconic Lakeland, Florida, campus, its position in academia continues advancing. The University has been ranked among the best for out-of-state tuition, most affordable mechanical engineering degree programs, and best universities in Florida for top performance at a low cost. Florida Poly also debuted as the number one public college in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s 2022 rankings, and advanced to the number 26 spot among all public engineering colleges without a doctorate degree in the nation.
Students learn and excel inside the world-renowned Innovation, Science, and Technology Building, designed by famed architect Santiago Calatrava and recipient of over 20 international design and architecture awards. A second cutting-edge academic building, the Applied Research Center, opens in summer 2022.
Tomorrow’s STEM leaders are gaining the knowledge, real-world experience, and industry connections at Florida Poly to take on emerging challenges and succeed for Florida and the nation.
This content was paid for and created by Florida Polytechnic University. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.
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