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Florida Polytechnic University ranks No. 8 in the nation for career outcomes by WalletHub in its 2025 Best Universities Ranking. The personal finance website also named the Lakeland, Florida, university among the best in the nation for best cost and financing.

Florida Poly ranks Top 10 in U.S. for career outcomes, No. 1 among public universities

October 17, 2024

Florida Polytechnic University was ranked No. 8 in the nation for top career outcomes for its graduates in WalletHub’s 2025’s Best Universities Ranking, released this week. This recognition placed Florida Poly alongside elite institutions such as the California Institute of Technology, Georgetown University and Duke University. Among public institutions, Florida Poly ranked No. 1 in the country.

Additionally, WalletHub ranked Florida Poly No. 2 in the state for best cost and financing, and No. 34 nationally. More than 700 universities were compared across 30 key measures to determine which schools offer top-notch education at the most reasonable price.

In a separate ranking, Research.com recently named Florida Poly the No. 1 most popular computer science degree program in Florida.

“We are thrilled that Florida Poly continues to earn national and statewide recognition for its exceptional STEM education and the outstanding career opportunities it provides for our students,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Florida Poly. “These new accolades reinforce our commitment to producing future high-tech leaders who are ready to excel in industry and help transform Florida’s economy.”

The acclaim for the University’s remarkable career outcomes is the result of its laser focus on career development services and prioritizing professional experiences, according to Allison Pirpich, Florida Poly’s director of career services and professional development.

“A unique aspect of our approach is we have two experiential learning requirements at the end of a four-year degree, which include an internship and a yearlong capstone project,” Pirpich said. “These experiences provide key professional skillsets that employers are looking for, which is a combination of technical and soft skills.”

Nearly 20% of this year’s seniors have secured plans for graduate school or full-time employment after graduation. Many of the job offers are from well-known companies such as Bank of America, Honeywell, ICR Defense, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Royal Caribbean.

For these seniors, salaries will range from $70,000 to $120,000.

With such competitive salaries on the horizon, the rigorous educational approach at Florida Poly plays a crucial role in preparing students for success in their future careers.

“These new rankings showcase the effectiveness of our innovative, all-STEM curriculum that prioritizes hands-on learning in small classes guided by world-class faculty,” said Dr. Brad Thiessen, Florida Poly’s interim provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Florida Poly transforms student curiosity into achievement. Our focus on strong foundational STEM knowledge, practical problem-solving applications, and communication skills means our graduates are fully prepared from day one to make significant contributions and become leaders in their chosen fields.”

 

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Session Details

This session will demonstrate that practical risk management is for everyone, regardless of a formal program. Attendees will learn actionable and simple strategies that are easy to implement, enabling them to start immediately by focusing on their top risks to build greater operational resilience and ensure the sustained success of their auxiliary enterprises.

Presenter Profile

Michelle Powell serves as the pioneering Risk Manager at Florida Polytechnic University, the state’s sole 100% STEM-dedicated institution. Having been with the university for nearly 11 years, Michelle transitioned from a leadership role in Admissions in October 2023 to establish and evolve the risk management function from the ground up. In this solo capacity, Michelle builds robust frameworks for our dynamic, young university, overseeing our insurance portfolio, consulting on third-party and event risks, and developing critical campus-wide training programs. Michelle has obtained the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) Enterprise Risk Management certificate and the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist (CRIS) designations. Her distinct background in mathematics and engineering, combined with extensive higher education leadership, brings an analytical and strategic approach enhancing the institution’s resilience.