In little more than 20 years, FGCU has made an indelible impact on Southwest Florida
We are a catalyst for the area’s economy and a cultural hub for the community. Our students enjoy one of the highest graduate employment rates among the state’s universities. Our campus and region serve as a living laboratory from which life-improving discoveries emanate. And our sports teams energize the entire region. Inspiring those who inspire others — that’s The FGCU Effect.
In 2017 FGCU welcomed Michael Martin, Ph.D. as our fourth president.
2007-2017
Wilson G. Bradshaw, Ph.D.
1999-2007
William C. Merwin, Ph.D.
1993-1999
Roy E. McTarnaghan, Ph.D.
Student success is our #1 priority
- Teaching is our primary mission, with 83% of classes taught by full-time faculty and a 22:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- FGCU leads the State University System in the percentage of alumni employed in Florida after graduation
- Tuition has remained the same for six years
- Average GPA of current students is 3.00; student-athletes' cumulative is 3.3
- Average high school GPA of freshmen is 3.93, with average scores of 1141 on SAT (Math/Reading/Writing)
- 73% of students receive financial aid
- More than 75% of students graduate without excess credit hours
- 82% of 2018-19 bachelor's recipients employed full time within a year of graduating — the second-highest employment rate among all SUS institutions
History
- Founded 1991; classes began in 1997
- First commencement May 1998, with 81 graduates
- Degrees awarded: 43,353
Accreditation
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and 18 other professional accrediting agencies
Students
- Enrollment: 15,329 (Fall 2020); 88% undergraduate
- 50% from Southwest Florida (Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Lee counties), and 97% from Florida; 3% from other states and international
- 4,754 students live in campus housing (including West Lake Village apartments)
- 58% female - 42% male
- More than 1,200 undergraduates participate in Honors College
-
White - 60.9%, Hispanic - 23.2%, Black - 8.4%, Asian - 3.3%, non-resident alien - 2%, not reported - 1.9%, Native American - 0.9%
Degrees
- 63 undergraduate
- 26 master's
- 7 doctoral
- 17 academic certificates
Campus
- 800 acres; 400 acres are restored or preserved nature
- 15-acre solar energy field
- 39 residential buildings with 4,754 beds
- One-third of enrolled students live on campus, including 75% of all first-year students.
- Special-interest housing environments called living-learning communities for Honors College members, Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (WiSTEM) and students interested in entrepreneurship or Leadership Through Service. The First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program is designed to help freshmen successfully navigate the first year of independent living.
Off-Campus Properties
- Gulf Coast Center at Buckingham (505 acres, 60+ buildings, softball field, pool, Eagles Challenge course)
- Charlotte County WGCU TV/Radio (transmitter)
- Emergent Technologies Institute (classrooms, labs, conference space)
- Harvey Kapnick Education and Research Center, Naples (classrooms, labs, conference space), includes Everglades Wetland Research Park
- Vester Marine and Environmental Science Research Field Station, Bonita Springs (classrooms, labs, apartments, docks)
- West Lake Village (student housing)
Student Clubs and Organizations
- 28 fraternities and sororities
- 26 sports clubs
- 200+ student organizations
- Food Forest designed and maintained by students
Community Engagement
- 3.7 million student service-learning hours since FGCU opened in 1997
- 300+ community agencies in Southwest Florida provide service opportunities
- Students entering as freshmen or sophomores complete a minimum 80 service hours before graduation
Alumni
- 37,181 graduates
- States with most alumni: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Texas
- Percentage of all alumni live in: 35% Lee County, 14% Collier County, 4% Broward County, 3.3% Charlotte County, 3.2% Palm Beach, 2.7% Sarasota County
- Alumni Association Chapters: Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, Washington D.C.
Resources & Research
Faculty & Staff
- Total faculty: 550
- Total staff: 924
Research & Sponsored Programs
- $15.46 million awarded 2020-21
- $275 million awarded since FGCU opened in 1997
Athletics
- NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference
- First #15 seed ever to advance to NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Sweet 16
- Men’s teams: Baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, sand volleyball, soccer, tennis
- Women’s teams: Basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving (Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association), tennis, volleyball
Continuing Education Programs
- 900+ non-credit courses offered each year at 11 regional sites through The FGCU Academy
- Affordable programs on campus, off campus and online for professional training, certification and licensing and career development in public and private sectors
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