Eckerd College vs Florida Southern
Eckerd College and Florida Southern College, both esteemed institutions in Florida, offer distinct educational experiences. Eckerd, a private liberal arts college in St. Petersburg, boasts a 68% acceptance rate and a diverse student body, with 40% of undergraduates identifying as students of color. Florida Southern, a private liberal arts college in Lakeland, has a slightly lower acceptance rate of 63% and a more homogenous student body, with 70% of undergraduates identifying as White. While both colleges offer a range of popular majors, Eckerd excels in Marine Science and Environmental Studies, while Florida Southern is known for its strengths in Business and Education. With graduation rates of 75% and 73% respectively, both colleges ensure that their students are well-prepared for their future careers. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional institutions and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Eckerd College |
![]() Florida Southern College |
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Overview |
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Location | Saint Petersburg, Florida | Lakeland, Florida |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | 4-1-4 | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 79.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Presbyterian | Methodism |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 70.4% | 60.9% |
Application fees | $40 | |
SAT range | N/A | 1160 - 1335 |
ACT range | N/A | 25 - 30 |
Students submitting SAT score | 27.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 5,580 | 10,759 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,927 | 6,550 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 650 | 792 |
Yield rate | 16.6% | 12.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $65,636 | $55,100 |
Average net price | $37,494 | $25,783 |
Tuition | $47,044 | $38,180 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,052
Meal plan:
$6,430
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Room/dormitory:
$7,224
Meal plan:
$4,800
|
Available payment plans |
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|
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $27,244 |
100.0%
Average amount $28,545 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
52.0%
Average amount $5,157 |
61.0%
Average amount $5,373 |
Students taking out private loans |
13.0%
Average amount $22,106 |
9.0%
Average amount $16,516 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,036
Men 30.4% Women 69.6% |
2,811
Men 35.8% Women 64.2% |
Graduate students | N/A |
575
Men 33.4% Women 66.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
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Out-of-state students | 83.2% | N/A |
International students | 3.8% | 3.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 1,760 | 2,329 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Florida New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Texas | N/A |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 12:1 | 14:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 68.2% | 67.7% |
Dropout rate | 29.8% | 32.3% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Research and Experimental Psychology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
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