Facts & Rankings
Leading the Way in STEM
Recognized for academic excellence, unmatched value, and career-ready graduates, Florida Poly continues to rise as one of the most innovative universities in the South. Discover the rankings and distinctions that prove what sets us apart.
A University Like No Other
Founded for Innovation
Established: 2012 | Opened for Instruction: August 25, 2014
Florida’s only public university dedicated exclusively to STEM
Campus
- Location – 4700 Research Way, Lakeland, Florida 33805
- Main Campus – Spanning 170.5 acres, the campus offers state-of-the-art facilities including research labs, classrooms, residence halls, dining, and student life amenities.
acres with state-of-the-art facilities
Academics
- Degree Programs – 13 undergraduate and 5 graduate programs focused on high-demand STEM fields
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio – 17:1 for personal, hands-on learning
degree programs focused on STEM fields
Our Students
- Enrollment – 1,900+ students
- Student Body – First-year students come from more than 18 states across the U.S. and from countries around the world.
- Florida Roots – 91% of first-year students are Floridians, building the state’s STEM future
students
Academic Excellence
- Average SAT Score – 1313
- Average ACT Score – 30
- Average High School GPA – 4.17
Our People
- Faculty – Over 100 expert professors and researchers
- Staff – 200+ professionals dedicated to student success
For more data and detailed reports, visit Institutional Research & Effectiveness.
Rankings that Set Us Apart
Florida Poly continues to rise as a national leader in STEM education, recognized for academic excellence, affordability, and career outcomes.
Academic Excellence
- #1 Public College in the South – five years running (U.S. News & World Report)
- Top 30 in the Nation for Public Engineering Programs without a Ph.D. (U.S. News & World Report)
Value & Affordability
- #1 Grads with Lowest Student Debt among Florida’s State Universities (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard)
- #1 Best Value College in Florida (Research.com)
- #3 Best Value Public College in the South (U.S. News & World Report)
- Top 10 Best Value Colleges in the U.S. (Research.com)
Career Success
- Top 10 in the Nation for Best Career Outcomes — #1 among public universities (WalletHub)
- #1 Highest Salaries – At $66,800, Alumni earn the highest median wage one year after graduation among Florida’s State Universities (Florida Board of Governors)
- #1 Most Affordable Cybersecurity Degree Program in the Nation (Cybersecurity Guide)
Student Achievement
- #1 Most Popular Computer Science Degree Program in Florida (Research.com)
- #1 College for Veterans in the Southeast (U.S. News & World Report)
Previous Rankings
#1 Public College in the Southeast U.S. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2023
Top 20 Public Engineering Program without a Ph.D. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2023
#2 Best Value Public College in the Southeast U.S. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2023
#2 College in the Southeast U.S. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2023
#1 College for Veterans in the Southeast U.S. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2023
#2 Highest Average SAT Scores among Public Universities in Florida, December 2023
#1 Highest Salaries of Graduates in the state of Florida University System, January 2024
#1 in State for Grads with Lowest Student Debt, January 2024
#1 Most Affordable Cybersecurity Degree Program in the Nation, January 2024
#1 Public College in the Region – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
Top 30 Public Engineering Program without a Ph.D. – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
#1 Highest Salaries of Graduates among Florida’s state universities- MyFloridayFuture, March 2022
#7 Cost and Financing – WalletHub, October 2022
#1 Best Colleges for Veterans in the region – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
#3 College in the region among public and private institutions – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
#2 institution in the region for graduates with the least student debt – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
Top 30 best value schools in the region – U.S. News and World Report, September 2022
#3 in the Florida University System for Top Performance at a Low Cost – WalletHub, October 2021
#14 for Best Career Outcomes – WalletHub, October 2021
Top #25 in the Nation for Affordability – University HQ, August 2021
10 Most Prominent Analytics and Data Science Institutes – Analytics Insight Magazine, July 2021
5 Best Universities in the Southern States for Tech Students – Deep South Magazine, December 2020
#2 Best Affordable Mechanical Engineering Degree Programs – Affordable Schools, March 2020
#1 in the U.S. for lowest out-of-state tuition – ValueCollege, November 2019
Why Choose Florida Poly?
Consistently ranking among the top STEM institutions in the nation
Exceptional return on investment: low tuition, low student debt, and high post-grad salaries
Small class sizes and hands-on learning that fuel student success
Strong partnerships with industry leaders and high-impact career outcomes
Maps & Directions
Florida Poly is conveniently located at the center of the high-tech corridor in Lakeland, Florida—just off I-4 between Tampa and Orlando.
Contact Florida Polytechnic University
863-583-9050 | info@floridapoly.edu
