About

See what students say:

Academics

Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast in St. Petersburg, Eckerd College is a small liberal arts college that prepares students to be “well-rounded, educated people for the ‘real world,’ rather than for just one job.” Indeed, 45 percent of all students will go on to pursue advanced degrees, and the school’s “academics are top notch and continue to impress,” particularly the constantly expanding, “hands on” science and art departments, which “really flourishes.” Also of note is the study abroad program, of which most students take advantage.

Eckerd is “all about having small class sizes in order to maximize learning and personal connections to professors.” Professors are “always approachable on an academic and personal level” and “make the classes fun and interesting.” There is a “level of genuine care” from the teachers; according to a senior, “If I have a question, it gets answered, simple as that.” “Not once has an email been ignored that I have sent to a professor,” echoes a junior. Class discussion is very important (many classes have a sizeable participation grade), and faculty encourages opposing views, creating “an environment where it is easy for everybody to openly express their opinions without judgment.”

The Mentor program assigns students to professors of their major(s), their job being “to help guide the student through choosing classes and registration, or anything else.” The “quirky” liberal arts curriculum turns out graduates that “are not pigeonholed into the skills associated with their major, but [who] have developed a wide range of abilities which make them attractive to employers.”

Student Body

This “barefooted and brainy” brood “has a wide variety of students who all fit different niches.” “It isn’t unheard of to see people in three-piece suits sitting with what we might call modern-day hippies,” says a student. The “very relaxed” crowd adopts a “laid-back Florida attitude,” and every student is “friendly, approachable and has a general positive attitude about being here at Eckerd.” Most everyone is “pretty liberal” and “has a strong interest in environmental sustainability.”

Campus Life

The school’s heartstoppingly beautiful location on the waterfront gives it a feel of being “like summer camp with an enriching academic experience”; as a senior asks (rhetorically): “How can you beat a dorm that overlooks the bay?” The residence halls “are beautiful so there is no need to live off campus,” and the school’s Community Bike program allows students to “just pick up the yellow bikes and ride wherever you need” (though some students think there should be “more dedication through internal action to the environmental principles it espouses”).

There are “eclectic options of student activities” at Eckerd, and with no Greek life, the Campus Activities crew is allotted “a crazy amount of money to have fun events on campus, such as cookouts, dances, casino nights, and an actual carnival brought onto campus.” Obviously marine activities are popular, and for fun, people “go to the beach, go downtown, [and borrow] paddleboards/kayaks at the Waterfront.” People love exploring downtown St. Pete, and there are many famous restaurants nearby (good thing, as the cafeteria food is “definitely our weakest point,” according to many students).

There’s a definite party streak here, and “pot and beer are not strangers to Eckerd parties,” which typically take place outdoors. Still, it’s “a very no-pressure environment” for those who choose not to partake, and “there is a very ‘free as a bird’ mentality’” here so “people rarely feel trapped.” Life at this school is generally relaxed but busy. It matches the atmosphere of the location,” says a first-year student.

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Contact & Visit

Campus Visits Contact

Contact
Lucille Lopez
Visit Coordinator

Address
4200 54th Avenue South
St Petersburg, FL 33711

Phone
727-864-8331

Email
admissions@eckerd.edu

Experience College Life

Most Popular Places On Campus
the James Center for Molecular and Life Sciences
the GO Pavilion
Waterfront/South Beach
the Pub
the Center for Visual Arts

Most Popular Places Off Campus
the beach! Pass-a-Grille, Fort De Soto and St. Pete Beach
downtown St. Petersburg - Saturday market, Dali museum, Chihuly Collection
First Friday - free concerts in downtown St. Petersburg
Tropicana Field - home of the Tampa Bay Rays
off-campus study destinations

Campus Tours

Campus Tours
Appointment Required: Yes
Dates: Year-round
Times: 8:30-5:00
Average Length: Varies

On Campus Interview

Campus Interviews
No

Information Sessions
Not Available


Faculty and Coach Visits

Dates/Times Available
Year-round

Arrangements
Contact Admissions for faculty visits; contact Athletics for coach visits.

Contact Email Address for Visit
email coaches directly

Class Visits

Dates/Times Available
Varies

Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office

Overnight Dorm Stays

Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available

Transportation

Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Closest airports: Tampa (TPA) and St. Petersburg/Clearwater (PIE). SuperShuttle provides transportation from airports 24 hours a day. Reservations can be made upon arrival, online, or by phone (800) 282-6817. Cash or credit card is accepted. Fees are approximately $25.00 one way from either Tampa International Airport (TPA) or St. Petersburg-Clearwater Airport (PIE). Uber, Lyft.

Driving Instructions to Campus
From Tampa International Airport: As you leave the Airport, follow the signs to I-275 South and St. Petersburg. Follow directions above from the North. Car rental and transportation service to campus are available at the airport.
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Admissions

Applicants: 4,830
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average HS GPA: 3.46






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