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Summary
Florida Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1958. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,724, its setting is city, and the campus size is 130 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Florida Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 160. Its tuition and fees are $34,710 (2012-13).
Though the Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) was originally started as training grounds for space industry professionals working at what is now the Kennedy Space Center, the school also offers undergraduate degree programs in science, engineering, humanities, psychology, communication, science and math education, and more. About half of the student body enrolls in the school’s College of Business. The school’s location on what’s known as the Space Coast of the Atlantic Ocean puts students in an ideal spot for water sports such as surfing, boating, kayaking, and fishing. For a more traditional collegiate athletic outlet, students can check out the Florida Tech Panthers sports teams, which compete in the NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference. There are also more than 100 student organizations to consider joining, including about 10 fraternities and sororities.
Florida Tech runs a variety of science-focused research centers and institutes, including the Wind and Hurricane Impacts Research Laboratory and the Institute for Marine Research. There are programs for graduate students, too, through the Florida Tech engineering school, education school, and more. Notable alumni of Florida Tech include Ann Dunwoody, the first female four-star general in the U.S. Army, and David King, former director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
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Florida Institute of Technology is unique among Florida colleges and universities in that it offers the resources of a national research institution combined with the robust, personalized learning experiences of a small college; a combination the university calls "High Tech with a Human Touch." As a result, Florida Tech students experience the rigor of strong academic programs, impactful relationships with expert faculty, and the excitement of a diverse and dynamic campus life. In official terms, Florida Tech is a regionally accredited, coeducational, independent, privately supported university. But it is so much more. As the only independent technological university in the Southeastern United States, it is also an international center for innovation, high-caliber research and world-class education. A truly global university, Florida Tech attracts undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 United States and more than 100 other countries worldwide. Florida Tech awards bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees in aeronautics, business, engineering, science, mathematics, psychology, humanities, communication and education. Popular programs include biological science, marine biology, aerospace and mechanical engineering, environmental science, physics and space science, civil engineering, aeronautical science and aviation, and computer science. The university also offers programs in meteorology, construction management, international business, biomedical engineering, premedical studies, prelaw, sports management, forensic psychology, nuclear technology, systems engineering, human-centered design, biomathematics and astrobiology. Florida Tech has more than 125 special focus laboratories devoted to professional-level research in fields such as aquaculture, fluid dynamics, remote sensing, environmental education, infectious diseases, laser optics and instrumentation, magnetic levitation, microelectronics, robotics and spatial systems, and wind and hurricane research. In 2008, the university celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since then, Florida Tech has engaged in over $74 million in new construction on the Melbourne, Fla. campus. Recent additions include a state-of-the-art dining facility, aquatic center and residence village, as well as two new centers of excellence, the Scott Center for Autism Treatment and Harris Center for Science and Engineering, both designed to further enhance student learning-and have a positive impact on society as a whole-through basic and applied research. Florida Tech's proximity to the Atlantic coastline of central Florida in Brevard County, better known as the "Space Coast," puts the university in the center of the state's High Tech Corridor, which is home to Kennedy Space Center, United Space Alliance, Harris Corporation, and many other significant scientific government agencies and technology companies. The area has the most concentrated high-tech economy in the state and one of the largest high-tech workforces in the nation, which results in ample opportunity for students to network with top employers and find internships, co-op positions and careers. Florida Tech is ranked a Tier One Best National University by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, it has been listed as a Barron's Guide "Best Buy" in college education, ranked a "Best Southeastern College" by The Princeton Review, and named among the top private universities in Florida by Washington Monthly College Rankings. Most recently, Florida Tech was named by Bloomberg Businessweek as the top university in Florida for return on investment. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1958 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | city |
| 2011 Endowment | $49,602,761 |
Applying
When applying to Florida Institute of Technology, it's important to note the application deadline is rolling. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due July 1. It is selective, with an acceptance rate of 57.4 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 57.4% |
| Application deadline | rolling |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | July 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Florida Institute of Technology is 9:1, and the school has 53.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Florida Institute of Technology include: Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Electrical and Electronics Engineering; Civil Engineering, General; and Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 75.8 percent.
Student Life
Florida Institute of Technology has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,724, with a gender distribution of 71.1 percent male students and 28.9 percent female students. At this school, 49.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 51.0 percent of students live off campus. Florida Institute of Technology is part of the NCAA II athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 5,189 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA II |
Campus Info & Services
Florida Institute of Technology offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Florida Institute of Technology also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at Florida Institute of Technology, 65 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Florida Institute of Technology.
| Students who have cars on campus | 65% |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Florida Institute of Technology, 59.4 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $20,597.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $34,710 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $12,270 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
