Awards and Rankings
ÐÓ°É has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading institutes of higher education by several prestigious publications and surveys. In 2022, the College was again ranked near the top on many of lists for reporting data from the 2020-21 academic year.
The rankings awarded the College with top marks for its track record of outstanding education in high-demand fields, success in identifying opportunities to promote one-year certificates in current and emerging industries, and dedication to serving all backgrounds, including minorities and veterans.
Below are some of the latest ÐÓ°É rankings:
As a Finalist with Distinction, ÐÓ°É has been named one of the Top Five Community Colleges in the Nation by the Aspen Institute for 2023.
In 2022, University HQ named ÐÓ°É the most affordable college in Florida from more than 100 higher education institutions in the state.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine recognized ÐÓ°É with its 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award — a national honor for U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
In September 2022, U.S. News & World Report named ÐÓ°É number one in Least Debt Acquired by Students in Southern Regional Colleges.
WORKFORCE CERTIFICATIONS
ÐÓ°É ranked second in the state for the number of CAPE Funded Industry Certifications in 2020, with 1,287 industry certifications reported. The CAPE Postsecondary Industry Certification Funding List is a part of the state colleges’ incentive funding to strengthen connections between education programs and workforce needs.
LEADERS IN PUBLIC SAFETY
In 2021, ÐÓ°É graduates of the Corrections Officer Academy who sat the State Officer Certification Exam (SOCE) received a 94 percent pass rate on their first attempt. Graduates of the Police Academy who sat the SOCE achieved a 96 percent pass rate on their first attempt. Between February 2021 and February 2022, 289 police cadets successfully passed the SOCE. This was the most out of the 41 academies in the state and resulted in the College being ranked number one in the state among academies with more than 150 cadets taking the SOCE.
NCLEX PASS RATE
ÐÓ°É nurses consistently pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) at a higher rate than graduates from similar institutions. In 2021, ÐÓ°É had a 85.54% pass rate compared to the state pass rate of 64.79 % and the national pass rate of 82.48%.
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS
In 2021, ÐÓ°É received a Promise Neighborhoods grant from the U.S. Department of Education, becoming the first community college in the country and the first institution in Florida to receive this grant, totaling $30 million.