Set on over 840 square miles, Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental United States. It also has a relatively young population; as of 2018, the median age of a Jacksonville resident was 36. Perhaps that young age speaks to the wealth of educational opportunities for up-and-coming professionals in the Jacksonville area.
In 1901, Jacksonville hosted the first-ever college football game in the state, a match between Florida Agriculture College and Stetson University. Over 2,000 people showed up to watch!
Florida Career College is one of the best-known trade schools in Jacksonville. Students there can engage in a variety of programs, including business, HVAC, healthcare and administration, information technology, nursing and cosmetology. Other trade schools in the area are more targeted, such as the CRC Institute (with seven cosmetology programs), the Watson School of Real Estate, or the Tulsa Welding School. Numerous other types of trade and technical colleges in Jacksonville round out the possibilities for hands-on career paths.
Florida State College at Jacksonville is the largest institution of higher education in the area, with more than 50,000 enrolled students and over 150 program offerings. Edward Waters College is among the oldest colleges in Florida — it was founded in 1866, only two decades after Florida became a state. It was also the state's first institution of higher education for African Americans.
There are numerous other universities in Jacksonville, such as Jacksonville University, St. Johns River State College and University of North Florida. Smaller institutions, such as nearby Flagler College or the Art Institute of Jacksonville, help round out the options for those who want to complete their undergraduate degree in The River City.
Many colleges and universities in Jacksonville, such as the University of North Florida, have robust graduate programs in areas such as health, arts and sciences, engineering, education, construction and business. Ambitious students can also look to the University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville or the Florida Coastal School of Law to further their careers.
We also provide an extensive list of Florida Colleges.
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