Eckerd will change your life so you can change the world
We inspire and empower individuals to improve the world through mastery of self and a lifetime of learning. Our students are guided on a four-year journey of discovery, with small classes, professor-mentors and a commitment to community service.
We love our spectacular mile-long waterfront and white-sand beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. But we are more than a pretty face. Eckerd is an innovative liberal arts and sciences community where students are well-taught and well-loved.
We’re not for everyone but we might be just the place for you.
One of the youngest colleges in the country to get a Phi Beta Kappa chapter
One of 40 colleges and universities featured in the highly regarded guide Colleges That Change Lives
93% of Eckerd graduates earn their degrees in 4 years or less
95% of faculty hold Ph.D.s or the terminal degree in their field
Our campus
An oasis of learning in a natural environment
Our waterfront campus offers swimming, boating and sunbathing on our own white-sand beach—just steps away from your residence hall.
Native plants and wildlife cover the campus, which we nurture with conservation efforts. Most of our faculty offices open directly outside or in common areas to encourage interaction with students. The bay and other natural areas are living laboratories for research—even for first-years.
Study in a hammock or on a blanket on the beach, or head to our modern library overlooking Fox Pond. Get a workout at the fitness center or at our outdoor pool.
Our 188-acre campus is nestled along Boca Ciega Bay
One of the first colleges in the country to allow pets to live with students on campus
88% of students live on campus
Our Community
Making a difference within and without
You won’t find any ivory towers on our campus. Each day we aim to change the world around us, whether on campus or in our home city of St. Petersburg—a dynamic city of arts, culture and outdoor activities.
Our students and professors contribute thousands of hours each year to nonprofits in St. Petersburg. For example, more than 100 organizations in St. Petersburg benefit from our students’ work each year.
Have a quick video tour of St. Petersburg, Florida
Our History
A commitment to the liberal arts
Founded as Florida Presbyterian College, we opened our doors on Sept. 2, 1960, with 155 first-year students and 22 faculty. We have grown steadily over the years and became Eckerd College in 1972.
But one thing hasn’t changed: a focus on creative, innovative curricula in the liberal arts tradition with a strong emphasis on small classes and world-class faculty who know and care about the success of every student.
Facts & Figures
Accreditation
Eckerd College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate degrees. Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, or call 404.679.4500 with questions about the accreditation of Eckerd College.
Eckerd’s Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biochemistry is certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
