Florida Poly Sees New Student Application Surge

Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland is experiencing a significant increase in the number of students applying to become Phoenixes. At only two-thirds of the way through the 2020 recruitment cycle, the University has received 31% more freshman applications compared to this time last year. This includes a 44% increase in applicants from out of state.

The new numbers are a stark contrast to the current trends in postsecondary enrollment throughout the nation. Higher education enrollment for fall 2019 declined for the eighth consecutive year by 231,000 students across all types of institutions, according to the latest research from the non-profit organization National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Public four-year colleges saw the largest decrease at 97,426 students.

The academic quality of the applicants to Florida Poly improved as well:

• Average SAT of admitted freshmen is up 30 points to 1334.

• Average ACT is up from 29 to 30.5.

• Average GPA of admitted freshmen increased from 4.2 to 4.35.

"This is great news, especially in light of the national data," said Dr. Ben Matthew Corpus, associate vice provost for enrollment management. "As students learn about Florida Poly, they see a place where they can connect and engage in a state-of-the-art public university. We're a small, selective, and an intensely relevant institution where students aren't just a number."

Dr. Corpus said the surge in applications is a result of new team outreach efforts put in place to create greater awareness of the University not only in Florida, but throughout the country. These include:

• new digital and teacher-centered strategies to connect with high schools more efficiently

• the hiring of a full-time regional recruiter in the Northeast

• a re-imagined campus visit program that connects cutting-edge tech, social and economic relevance that's engaging

• new academic programs and targeted scholarships on sectors of STEM excellence

"We won't know if these additional applicants will all enroll until the fall, but it is definitely a very positive sign that the team's hard work is paying off," Corpus said. Transfer applications are also up 13%, as well as their quality. Average transfer GPAs are up from a 3.0 to a 3.4.

Another factor improving Florida Poly's attractiveness to prospective students is its recently attained ABET accreditation, as well as the addition of new programs of study such as Environmental Engineering, Engineering Physics, Engineering Mathematics and new concentrations in aerospace, digital design, and mathematics of medicine and biology. The University also is building the Applied Research Center, an 85,000-square-foot cutting-edge facility focused on research and innovation and scheduled to open in 2021.

"Florida Poly's programs put students directly on the path to making an impact on the economy and society, where students know they'll be highly competitive and employable well into the future," according to Dr. Terry Parker, executive vice president and provost..

"Students and families recognize that to stay career relevant as creative innovators, a degree from a selective STEM university is really the best choice."

For more information on applying to Florida Poly, click here.