About Us

Florida Southern College

Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the oldest private college in the state. The College maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 70+ undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, nursing, and physical therapy. Florida Southern has a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, is an award-winning national leader in engaged learning, and boasts 30 NCAA Division II National Championships. Florida Southern is ranked at #8 among the “Best Regional Universities in the South” by U.S. News & World Report in its 2022 “Best Colleges” guide and is included in The Princeton Review’s 2022 Best 387 Colleges guide and the “Fiske Guide to Colleges 2022.” 

The 2021-2022 Colleges of Distinction guidebook praises Florida Southern’s AACSB accredited Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise alongside the College’s School of Education and its Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Poets & Quants, U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, and The Princeton Review further laud the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise and the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences as foremost programs in the nation for business and nursing education. Home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, FSC has appeared on The Princeton Review’s top 20 “Most Beautiful Campus” national listing for 12 consecutive years. Connect with Florida Southern College.

Accreditation

National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Florida Southern College has been approved by Florida to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of postsecondary distance education. 

Learn More on the NC-SARA website

Florida Southern College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award bachelor’s, master's, and doctoral degrees. Florida Southern College also may offer credentials such as certificates at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Florida Southern College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur GA 30033-4097, or by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website ( www.sacscoc.org ). 

Individuals wishing to review any documents related to Florida Southern College accreditation, should contact the Office of the Provost at 863.680.4124. 

Florida Southern College is also accredited by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church and fully approved by the Florida Department of Education to offer undergraduate degrees leading to teacher certification in Elementary Education, Music Education, Art Education, and secondary education. The program also has State of Florida ESOL Endorsement for Elementary Education. The School of Education has aligned its programs to meet Florida’s Subject Area Competencies as well as the Florida Educators’ Accomplished Practices (FEAP). 

The Bachelor of Nursing and Master in Science in Nursing at Florida Southern College are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Barney Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise is accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). In addition, Florida Southern’s music programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Chemistry programs are approved by the American Chemical Society. 

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at the Florida Southern College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)