Finding the right school, whether you are a graduating high school student or an adult looking to retool your life and find a new career, is a challenge.
‘Best Colleges’ (www.BestColleges.com) researches and ranks colleges according to their offerings, student success rates and overall performance.
Recently ‘Best Colleges’ released the latest edition (2020) of their findings and Florida Panhandle Technical College in Chipley, Florida not only made the list, but aced out larger schools, based on performance, to take the Number One position of the new ‘Community College’ category.
The guide features rankings of accredited educational institutions to help prospective students find a school that meets their needs and career goals.
Each ranking highlights key school facts, such as location, available programs, admission and graduation requirements.
Community colleges and technical schools differ from four-year colleges and universities in the types of degrees and certifications they offer. For instance, community colleges confer only two-year associate degrees and occupational training certificates, and focus on career and technical education.
With an associate degree, learners can typically transfer to a four-year college to complete their bachelor’s degree or enter the workforce directly with some practical skills job training.
Community colleges in Florida offer the added advantage of affordable tuition, which can save students thousands of dollars over the course of a four-year degree.
Here are a few schools which also made the list of the ‘Best Community Colleges in Florida’ for 2020:
Top 10 Community Colleges in Florida
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida Panhandle Technical College | Chipley, FL |
| 2 | Pinellas Technical College-St. Petersburg | Saint Petersburg, FL |
| 3 | Lorenzo Walker Technical College | Naples, FL |
| 4 | Pinellas Technical College-Clearwater | Clearwater, FL |
| 5 | Emerald Coast Technical College | DeFuniak Springs, FL |
| 6 | Orange Technical College-Westside Campus | Winter Garden, FL |
| 7 | Manatee Technical College | Bradenton, FL |
| 8 | RIVEROAK Technical College | Live Oak, FL |
| 9 | Orange Technical College-Orlando Campus | Orlando, FL |
| 10 | Marchman Technical Education Center | New Port Richey, FL |
‘We owe this to pour staff, instructors, support staff and administration’, said FPTC Director Larry Moore of Florida Panhandle Technical College on Tuesday, upon hearing about the results.
Cutting edge programs, reflecting the needs of the business community, continues to pay dividends for Florida Panhandle Technical College, including CyberSecurity, Digital Video Technology, 3D Printing and Drafting, Hemodialysis and Drone Technology.
Community colleges in Florida prepare graduates for a variety of college and career opportunities. Jobs in Florida pay average annual earnings of $46,010, and the state boasts a 3.3% unemployment rate, a figure below the national average.
Popular industries for certificate- and degree-holders in the Sunshine State include healthcare, business, and education. Florida ranks fourth among all U.S. states for the number of healthcare practitioners and technical positions, and healthcare workers in the state earn mean annual wages of $75,680. Other sectors with high levels of employment in Florida include hospitality/leisure and government.
Cost of living varies across the state. Urban areas such as Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa feature costs of living below the national average. Other regions — including Miami and Sarasota — are more expensive than the national average.
Stop by Florida Panhandle Technical College at 757 Hoyt Street in Chipley, call 850-638-1180 extension 317 or visit FPTC online at www.FPTC.edu for more information.
