Quick Stats
Location : St. Petersburg, FL
Closest Big City/Airport : Tampa Bay, FL
School Size : 2,017
Athletic Division : NCAA DII
Athletic Conference : Sunshine State Conference (SSC)
Tuition & Fees : $47,044
Total Cost of Attendance : $61,186
Average Cost After Aid : $43,732
Percent of Financial Aid Need Met : 84%
Average High School GPA : 3.5
Average SAT/ACT Combined : SAT - 1185 // ACT - 26
Acceptance Rate : 69%
Popular Degrees : Marine Science, Biology, Psychology, Business
Personal Tour Blog
Tucked away in a suburban area on the southern tip of St. Petersburg, Eckerd College is everything you’d expect from a beachfront campus. I was there on a sunny day, so students were mostly walking from their dorms to sunbathe at one of the many options along their 1.5 miles of private coastline. Many of the dorms themselves have floor-to-ceiling windows that face the ocean, and with one of the friendliest pet policies I’ve ever seen on a campus, there was almost always a dog in view. Eckerd even has a graduation ceremony for the animals that live with their owners on campus. With an emphasis on expanding horizons, Eckerd’s student population comes primarily (80%) from outside the state of Florida, and boasts a strong international presence as well. A Peace Corps Prep college, Eckerd also encourages 100% of its students to study abroad and works hard to provide that opportunity to all students. Given the proximity to the ocean, it should be no surprise that Eckerd has both a strong marine science and biology program. They also boast a strong international business program as well, tied deeply to their study abroad priorities it would seem. With a sailing center directly on the ocean and a recently remodeled biology building, Eckerd is prepped to provide the best resources for their most popular majors. Speaking of the sailing center, Eckerd allows all students to check out a huge array of water “toys” to use in the ocean or bay, free of charge. As I was walking past the sailing center along the ocean walkway, a few students were even checking out what they thought were a few sea lions in the bay. As for athletics, Eckerd keeps the majority of its athletic facilities all in one place on the southeast side of campus, save for the basketball arena. The athletic facilities are located next to the boathouse, where events happen often, so on my trip there was a DJ playing at the boathouse whose music could be heard in the softball stands during a game. All in all, Eckerd is a storybook version of a beachfront college. The students seem to really embrace the slower pace of ocean life, most of them love the outdoors, and I must admit I even felt more relaxed as I walked through the campus.
Fun Facts
- Studying abroad is a huge component of Eckerd. Nearly 100% of students will study abroad at some point in their college career.
- Eckerd is located directly on the coast, with a private 100-yard beach on campus
Athlete Fun Fact
With a sailing center right on the water, Eckerd students can learn how to sail during their time at school even if they don’t compete on the sailing team
Sports Offered
Men- Baseball
- Basketball
- Golf
- Soccer
- Tennis
Women- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Golf
- Sailing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
Co-EdTour Photos
About #TourTuesdays
Throughout the next few months, we are going to highlight various colleges and universities across the globe, some of which you may not have even heard of. Although we have no affiliation with any of these programs, we hope these tour notes will help you discover a new option, learn something new about a school you already know, or encourage you to explore a different type of institution that you otherwise wouldn't have explored.
