Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Computer Support Specialists
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, Tallahassee Community College, and State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota.
Fastest Response From Schools
- Request Info: For the fastest information for prospective students, look at the Spotlight schools on this page.
Student Body
- Part-Time: For schools emphasizing part-time studies, consider Florida International, Nova Southeastern, University of North Florida, and The University of West Florida.
- Diverse: For a diverse student body, consider Florida A&M, Miami Dade College, Florida International, and Saint Thomas University.
- Adult Learners: For lots of adult learners, consider Nova Southeastern, Barry, Hodges University, and Florida Keys Community College.
School Setting
- Out of State: For geographic diversity, take note of Embry Riddle, Beacon, Eckerd, and The University of Tampa.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Beacon, Stetson University, Webber International University, and Eckerd.
Excellence
- SAT: For students with high SAT scores, look at University of Miami, University of Florida, Rollins College, and Florida State.
- % Accepted: For selective institutions, look at Edward Waters, Florida International, Florida Memorial University, and University of South Florida-Main Campus.
- Class Size: For small class sizes, look at Beacon, Stetson University, University of Miami, and Rollins College.
Student/Alumnus Reviews of Schools for This Career and State
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Barry University • Miami, FL
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 2008)
• 7/7/2011
"I love the school, especially knowing I went to a very well known, elite school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is an elite school. A bit expensive, but worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Barry is a private school. It is considered elite and very hard to get into. It has a very high reputation as a Catholic campus. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Elite school. Good professors. |
| Instruction | 10 | Good professors. Very knowledgeable |
| How Difficult | 9 | It is very technical and a lot of math is required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The type of major I studied required a lot of both. Learning about programming, networks, book learning, and explanation is very crucial. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | They offer a lot of class schedules. I attended morning classes so I did not look much at the evening classes, but I believe they are flexible. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | It was accessible. I did not often make use of the facility since I lived off campus. |
| Social Life | 2 | I live nearby, and most of my friends did not attend the school. So I preferred not to participate in social events. I like to keep to myself. |
| Placement Services | 1 | If there was a career assistance, I was not aware of it. I was not helped with any job placement program. |
| Alumni Network | 6 | I do not participate in the alumni program. I receive email notifications in regards to it, but I do not join in. I cant give an accurate point of view on this. |
St. Petersburg College • St. Petersburg, FL
Studying Computer Information Systems (completion in 1997)
• 8/11/2011
"I am satisfied. It was a great experience and I would go again if I needed to. The school offers so many opportunities."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would recommend the school because I would go again myself. I would use this school over and over again because the return on investment was so great. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | My school has a really good reputation for a local community college. Many people have graduated from there in the local area so it gets a lot of respect from potential employers. |
| Program Quality | 10 | I am very satisfied with the school because they helped me find a job after graduation. The school prepared me properly for what I was going to need to do on the job. |
| Instruction | 10 | The professors worked in the field in real life in addition teaching, so I trusted and believed what they said. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program is not that difficult if you can read, use a computer for basic tasks, and are willing to learn. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Both books and online learning was used in the class. I enjoyed both of them - it's nice to get away from a computer and the internet and use a book to learn, like in the old days. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | The school is so flexible that you don't have to worry about fitting courses into your schedule. The classes can be taken online, at night, and on weekends. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The school was under remodel for many years, but when it was finished it was really beautiful, especially the art and performances auditorium. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school was very flexible so it was hard to meet people and get together. Most people are already busy with their jobs and families. |
| Placement Services | 10 | The school found me a job after graduation and has a career board that, as long as I remember my log in, I can use to look for a job. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I'm not really sure how the alumni program is because I do not get any information about it. |
COMPTIA A+ Certification • Online, FL
Studying Computer Technician Certification (completion in )
• 8/14/2011
"I was very happy with the school. I want to take more classes and programs there."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | This school will advance careers easily. It is a good school. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Anyone in the technical computer field knows about the program I took. It is very effective and respected. |
| Program Quality | 10 | The program allowed me to find work immediately. It taught me everything that I needed to know. |
| Instruction | 10 | I used everything that I learned in the program. I am very comfortable with applying the knowledge I learned from the program. |
| How Difficult | 1 | I only needed two months to finish their study at home program. I already knew a lot of the information before I took the classes. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I took apart and put together computers on my own. I also studied books online. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I could take the class from home. I made my own schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Some of the best computer experts in the world taught the classes. I had access to 24/7 resources online with everything that I needed to know. |
| Social Life | 10 | I have no complaints. The school was excellent. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no job placement or career services program. It would have been helpful to have this type of program. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is no alumni network. I am not pleased with this. |
ITT Tech • West Palm Beach, FL
Studying Computer Tech (completion in 2002)
• 8/13/2011
"It taught me everything necessary on this topic. This was all I needed to begin with."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Everything you need is at this school. They set up peoples' careers very well in this industry. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Very good reputation. However, this is not a big deal. The big deal is that they teach this subject very well. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Very good because it provides the basic knowledge and tools. Assistance is also very good when needed. |
| Instruction | 8 | Instruction was very detailed and easy to follow. My prior knowledge made this easier for me as well. |
| How Difficult | 1 | My prior experience was an advantage here. The work load was easy for my standards as well. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands on is the best learning style for me. It helped me grasp the applications of this topic. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Flexibility is alright. Nothing specia,l but it isn't needed as basic the schedule was good enough for my needs. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Plentiful resources provided. This made hands-on type of learning easy. |
| Social Life | 9 | Good experience since you need to be sociable in this field. I talked to many on campus about various PC topics. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Placement is upon one's strength of knowledge. It's very good for those with good knowledge of various computer repair tech topics. |
| Alumni Network | 9 | Very good support indeed. Help is available any time it's needed. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2011)
• 9/8/2011
"The social life, the learning, and if all goes well, the connections, are what made this school great. I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. The combination of all these great aspects would are rare and unmatched elsewhere."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I didn't study computer sciences or a related field in college, nor did I have any friends in that field. The only reason I know how to do my job is from personal experience with computers and on the job training. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Good, but not great. UF is a top 50 school according to some ranking, and is among the best public schools, but it doesn't have elite status. It has a great reputation as a party and athletics school, but the academic reputation isn't as widespread. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Despite gaining a lot of knowledge in business topics, I was not able to find a job in my field right away. It's unfortunate that UF's business school isn't yet highly regarded outside of the Southeast US. |
| Instruction | 9 | I gained a profound amount of knowledge, evidenced by my capacity to hold business-related conversations with ease, regardless of who I am talking to. This makes it seem like what I learned was very relevant. However, I have not been able to put this knowledge to practice in a relevant job setting. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The curriculum was challenging, but I am sure it could be a lot more so. I achieved very good grades while taking in a wide range of statistics, marketing, management, and so on. I still had lots of free time on my hands. I'm sure that I could have dedicated plenty more time to my studies if it had been necessary and/or required. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I guess it depends on the subject. Business administration was definitely a mix. There was a lot of book learning going on, but I also had to work on a hefty number of case studies taken from the real world. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | One can take programs in many different formats, and classes are offered in ways that allow no excuse for not taking the courses one need. I was able to complete my MBA program almost entirely online. Only a few parts of the program actually required me to be on campus. My undergraduate days were full of online classes, with the option to go to live sessions if one desired. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | There are libraries, study rooms, and computer facilities all around campus. Even if a student did not own a computer or have a comfortable place to study at home, he/she could go on campus and find the perfect spot. I also made use of the free tutoring programs for calculus and writing my first year there. Absolutely no complaints about facilities. |
| Social Life | 10 | I met people from all walks of life. UF is known for its party atmosphere and it couldn't be more true. A lot of it has to do with how good its athletic department is, especially when it comes to the major programs. There are also all sorts of school organizations one can join. There are ethnic clubs, music clubs, sports clubs, etc. You name it, they have it. |
| Placement Services | 5 | For a school that prides itself on its vast network of alumni, it doesn't seem like it leverages that network as much as it could in order to help place graduates in new jobs. The career center helps to some degree, but some people end up having to do their own thing anyway. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | It seems like there are Florida grads everywhere. One of them actually gave me the job I have now, which is why I gave an above average rating. The only way I'd give it a higher rating would be if I somehow managed to use network contacts to land a dream job. |
Northwest Florida State College • Valparaiso, FL
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2009)
• 9/24/2011
"I love NWFSC. The environment is very welcoming and the grounds are beautifully maintained. I love the running water everywhere, and the giant colorful sundial and solar calendar."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Yes I would absolutely suggest NWFSC as a place to earn a degree. A very social geographical area, one that is to home to many "beachers," friends are sure to be made, and you are most definitely going to walk away with a quality education. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | Being a newly converted State College from a Community College, its reputation can only be that of a community college for now. With time I see NWFSC's overall reputation increasing all around due to its conversion. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Northwest Florida State College, formerly known as Oakaloosa Walton Community College, provided a very good learning experience by using top rated professors and keeping the campus well maintained. NWFSC has constantly been renovating old buildings and building new ones for the entirety of my attendance. |
| Instruction | 10 | Not a single professor displayed a lack of knowledge in their field. Each instructor was always willing to spend time after class or out of class to help with problems I had. |
| How Difficult | 8 | Since it was one of the few AAS degrees that required extra credit hours, it took longer to complete the degree. The classes were somewhat challenging even to someone with a lifetime of computer experience. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes differ depending on the instructor. Some instructors choose to teach differently, although they are required to maintain a certain level of direction. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | NWFSC provides an array of scheduling choices. Anyone can fit their education schedule around their work schedule. Most instructors will even let you sit in on another class to catch up if need be. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | NWFSC has a wonderfully huge library, an architectural piece of art. It is outfitted with modern technology and several assistants. All professors are required to have scheduled office time so that students can reach them. NWFSC has an academic success center open just about everyday, filled with tutors to help students with whatever they may need. A great cafeteria and a great menu, better than most colleges I have seen. The classrooms are all fully functional, and I never came across a problem with room in any class. NWFSC has just built a new science center complete with many labs stocked with all the modern and needed technologies. |
| Social Life | 10 | Everyone is happy to be there, and you can sense an inherent desire from every student to learn - they actually want to be in school. Basketball is the main focus of NWFSC, and the court is always filled during games. There are many clubs on campus varying widely as to their composition and direction. |
| Placement Services | 7 | NWFSC offers some internships at its campus so that you can graduate right into a job on campus. NWFSC instructors are also very willing to help. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There isn't one. |
Miami Dade College • Homestead, FL
Studying Business (completion in 2012)
• 10/4/2011
"I'm extremely satisfied with my choice of school!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I recommend my school for others pursuing the same career. Being a community college, expenses are not as high as other universities/colleges. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | It is a community college, so many individuals know about it. |
| Program Quality | 7 | The school program is very thorough and very easy to understand. |
| Instruction | 5 | The quality of instruction is adequate enough to understand what's going on. |
| How Difficult | 5 | This is something I love, so I will put forth maximum effort. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The books for this course were very descriptive and beneficial to students. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 2 | Scheduling is very difficult, many classes are already filled up. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | There is a myriad of resources that we can use at any point: libraries, media and computer resources, laboratories, classroom space, academic advisors, tutors and study group support, and accessibility of professors. |
| Social Life | 10 | There are many social events during the week, which make it very enjoyable! |
| Placement Services | 6 | It was alright, though there was room for improvement. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | The alumni network has been thought out very well. |
Brownsville School Of Ministry • Pensacola, FL
Studying Practical Ministry (completion in 2000)
• 10/9/2011
"I feel they do a good job on explaining my dissatisfaction."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I wouldn't recommend the school to anybody. |
| Program Reputation | 1 | This is not a very popular field of study. The form of ministry modeled is not relevant to our society. |
| Program Quality | 1 | Looking back, I would have chosen a different major at a different school. The disadvantage would be that I wouldn't have met my wife. |
| Instruction | 1 | Since the school was focused on ministry, there was no career guidance unless it pertained to missions. This was a let down. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The curriculum went into great depth. There were also many ministry requirements to complete in order to graduate. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | I'd say that it was a 50/50 mix. It was decently balanced. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1 | Flexibility didn't exist. It was a loss for the school. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The school did have a computer lab. The library was more of a bookstore than a true library. |
| Social Life | 6 | The school did provide a social environment. |
| Placement Services | 1 | There was no career placement assistance. The school was poorly equipped to provide career guidance. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | There is almost no sense of relationship. There was very little effort to provide such an initiative. |
Stetson University • Deland, FL
Studying Business Management And Finance (completion in 2009)
• 10/23/2011
"The school was adequate. I felt the education I received was of excellent quality, however their support and advising left much to be desired."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | I would recommend that others search for better known universities. The quality of education I received was very good, however most employers care more about the perceived reputation of a degree. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | On a regional level, the program is well respected. However on a national level, it does not carry the same weight as larger, better known institutions. |
| Program Quality | 6 | The school I attended was a smaller institution, and did not have the variety of programs offered at other, larger universities. Overall I would rate the quality as average. Small class sizes were an advantage, but not enough to offset the limited options. |
| Instruction | 8 | Class size and instruction quality were extremely high. I felt that a combination of skill and theory based learning, with the addition of a quality career center led to a solid foundation to start in the workforce. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The program I was in was quite rigorous. Overall I think more could have been taught, especially projects with real world applications. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The curriculum I experienced was a good blend of both practical and theoretical learning. This was perhaps my favorite aspect of the university as far as the quality of their education. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | Flexibility was not this program's strong suit. Very few evening and weekend classes were offered, and the vast majority fell between 8am and 3pm. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | Facilities were quite good at this school. I have seen some others and am currently working at a higher education institution, and have seen first hand that other universities have a lack of multimedia equipment in the classroom and libraries comparatively.\ |
| Social Life | 7 | The university provided a well rounded mix of social events. There was athletics, community focused Greek life, and many student run/faculty sponsored hobby and activity groups. |
| Placement Services | 6 | The career center at school was very effective, however it was extremely limited in its scope. It focused on local and regional organizations with only a handful of national companies and corporations. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | The alumni network is very good about the frequency of their communication. Unfortunately, 95% of the communication is requests for donations. As someone only two years out, and still burdened by student loans, this is not very helpful, and does not increase my desire to stay connected to the university. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Religion/Philosophy (completion in 2010)
• 11/16/2011
"My overall experiences there were positive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | My education has nothing to do with my career. I wish I had received an IT college education. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | FSU has a very well known dept with top researchers in the field. |
| Program Quality | 10 | FSU has a great Religion and Philosophy dept. I got to work with some of the best in the field. My degree has nothing to do with my career. I have a CompTIA A+ Cert |
| Instruction | 10 | The Grad students and staff in the religion department are very knowledgeable and fun to work with. The research done there is also top notch. |
| How Difficult | 7 | FSU is known as an easy school but when you are working in a top department in the country, the standards outshine the university as a whole. The work is intense but rewarding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Universities are very book-oriented, there's not a lot of hands-on in religious studies. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | The college is not very flexible. It was reasonable, but nothing special. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | They have a great library for a state school with some of the best online resources. |
| Social Life | I did not socialize at school. | |
| Placement Services | I did not use their job placement services. | |
| Alumni Network | I have no experience with the FSU alumni or network. |
Miami Dade College • Miami, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2006)
• 12/6/2011
"The instruction and training were great, and it provided a springboard into my current career. I'm very thankful to the school for that."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I have done so in the past, to numerous friends. Financial aid is available and campuses are all over the city. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | Miami Dade College is competing with various other local colleges and schools that offer the same courses. It is slowly beginning to become the school of choice, as it is an accredited community college. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The professors were very down to earth. They actually sat down with me and walked me through situations where I might have had doubts. Very professional and informative. |
| Instruction | 9 | The professors were extremely informative and up to date, which a lot of schools lack. The information and equipment used in the classroom was modern. |
| How Difficult | 7 | You had to put in the time and effort if you wanted to get ahead. The workload was overwhelming at times, but not anything we couldn't handle. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It truly was a mixed bag; you got your hands-on instruction in class, and then you had to study the materials in the book for your testing and certifications. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Any given day of the week, there are classes. Times are available throughout the day and night, and online courses are available. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Miami Dade has numerous campuses throughout the county, and the facilities are great. They have high-tech and up-to-date hardware and software. There are also students who help others out in the labs. |
| Social Life | Not a lot of time to participate in extracurricular activities; between work and studies, it was tough. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Excellent. The school provides career placement and helps students find internships and temp jobs. |
| Alumni Network | 3 | We were never really introduced to alumni or previous students who took the course. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Computer Engineering (completion in 2010)
• 12/6/2011
"UF showed me a good time and prepared me well for the future. I am proud to consider myself a graduate."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | UF is a large public school. It isn't for everyone. Academically, we're one of the best in Florida, but there are smaller places to go if you have the money. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | UF was the highest-ranked school in the state until last year. The engineering school is well respected and many companies recruit from campus. |
| Program Quality | 10 | UF has a lot of work, but the courses made sense and prepared me for my job. The classroom experience was relevant and enjoyable. |
| Instruction | 10 | The classroom experience was relevant to my current career. Oftentimes, callers needed help manipulating VBA or designing in Java. My background assisted me in completing those goals. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The majority of the difficulty stemmed from time management and workload. The courses built well off each other and made everything easier to understand. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The classes were very much conceptual. Once we got to upper levels, the classes began requiring more programming and app development. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Classes in engineering weren't available more than one or two sections at the upper level. My schedule was pretty fixed. |
| Academic Facilities | 9 | The school has many resources because of its size. Often, the labs and libraries were crowded, but accessible. |
| Social Life | 10 | While UF is in the middle of nowhere, the social scene on campus is strong. People are always doing something. It is difficult to be bored. |
| Placement Services | 7 | I'm still working on campus, but career services has helped me find places to apply. I expect a full-time position within the next 6 months. |
| Alumni Network | I have not been out of school long enough to see the alumni network in action. I am still working on campus and have not gotten a full-time job. |
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Software Engineering (completion in 2011)
• 12/12/2011
"I enjoyed my time at UF, and I am certainly reaping the rewards of my degree, which helped me land my current job. In the end, the experience was very good, even with some of the shortcomings of the teaching method."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I felt that the university prepared me for my career, but also gave me extensive knowledge for real-life skills. While perhaps not the most enlightened Software Engineering experience I could imagine, they got the job done, and the perks of going to a school like UF made the experience worth it. |
| Program Reputation | 6 | UF has maintained a respectable reputation over the years, although the software engineering program in particular has never been a shining star for them. When going for job interviews, employers would recognize UF, but would need to ask how I felt their software engineering program was. |
| Program Quality | 8 | I believe UF did a good job preparing me for working in the field, although some of their practices and classes were perhaps a bit behind with some of the modern best practices I see in my day-to-day work. Overall, I believe the experience was invaluable. |
| Instruction | 6 | The instructors at UF ranged from very interesting and engaging, to very poor and difficult to understand or feel excited for. While this is largely out of the control of the school of the program itself, I felt that with such high-level material being offered, having someone teaching it who doesn't speak clearly can be very difficult. |
| How Difficult | 8 | The course load at UF for my program was certainly difficult, albeit not an impossible load to take on. As with anything, some courses were harder than others, but the advisers were very good at helping determine which courses should be taken together, and which should definitely be taken during easier semesters. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Every class I took was highly book taught, with many classes simply going over the reading from the night before, with no additional information or lesson that couldn't have been taken from the reading. While there were exceptions, I felt that many of the courses I took could have almost been self-taught, given the correct books and time. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | I was in school for an additional semester because of the school's inability to field a class, for two full semesters, that was necessary to graduate. This was the only class I had serious trouble with, however. |
| Academic Facilities | 8 | All of the faculty had extensive office hour offerings, were quick to respond to emails, and were very helpful outside of class. The libraries and other facilities were numerous and almost always open. |
| Social Life | 8 | The school always had great parties, a strong student government, and lots of co-curricular and extracurricular activities to choose from. UF believes that a strong social connection helps to keep students focused on their lives within the university. |
| Placement Services | 1 | The school's "job placement" program seemed to involve emailing students with local jobs for their program in town. These were often quite poor, as what software engineer wants to be working for a call center? |
| Alumni Network | 3 | I haven't been contacted by the Alumni Association, unless it has been to ask for donations. I've heard similar experiences from others who attended my university as well -- but at least I was never contacted for a donation while still attending their school. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"FSU was an awesome opportunity. I would recommend this school to anyone - even those looking for a major other than IT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Florida State University will prepare you for the real world of information technology. Through hands-on learning opportunities, you will come out as prepared or more prepared than students from any other IT school out there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Florida State's College of Communication and Information is one of the leaders in academia. The program has many esteemed graduates in the field. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Florida State University provides a well-rounded education in Information Technology. Students are taught Database, Programming, Networking, Web Design, Project Management, Information Security, Technical Writing and more. There are many opportunities for practical application of the skills you acquire throughout the program. |
| Instruction | 10 | I had some absolutely fabulous instructors in the IT program at FSU. They take the time to teach you the latest and greatest in technology, and they also form a relationship with each one of the students. I am still in contact with many of my professors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The difficulty of my program of study really depended upon the course. I found the programming classes to be extremely difficult. I didn't find other courses very difficult, but there was still a lot of work in them. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read the book, but most of our learning was hands on. Being in IT, we spent a lot of time on the computer, reading current information and applying it to our projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The program always offers 1-2 sections of most courses each semester, giving students an opportunity to be flexible with their schedule. Outside of the core classes, there are many electives available at all different times and mediums (web/classroom). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | FSU has numerous libraries throughout the campus. The College of Communication and Information has state-of-the-art labs for their students. There is also a new HIT lab that allows students to mine data for healthcare-related IT projects. |
| Social Life | 10 | FSU has something for everyone. Awesome athletics, tons of fraternities and sororities, social events, you name it. There is so much to do. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most students who graduate from the IT program find a job quickly and in a relevant field. Most of my fellow graduates are not only well employed, but are with the same employer that they graduated with, several years later. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Not only does FSU have an exceptional career center for when you are in school, they continue to be there for you after you have graduated. In addition, professors from the program are also still active with past students. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2009)
• 12/17/2011
"FSU was an awesome opportunity. I would recommend this school to anyone - even those looking for a major other than IT."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Florida State University will prepare you for the real world of Information Technology. Through hands on learning opportunities you will come out as, or more, prepared than any other IT school out there. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Florida States College of Communication and Information is one of the leaders in Academia. The program has many esteemed graduates in the field. |
| Program Quality | 9 | Florida State University provides a well-rounded education in Information Technology. Students are taught Database, Programming, Networking, Web Design, Project Management, Information Security, Technical Writing and more. There are many opportunities for practical application of the skills you acquire throughout the program. |
| Instruction | 10 | I had some absolutely fabulous instructors in the IT Program at FSU. They take the time to teach you the latest and greatest in technology and also form a relationship with each of the students. I am still in contact with many of my professors. |
| How Difficult | 7 | The difficulty of my program of study really depended upon the course. I found the programming classes to be extremely difficult, others I didn't find very difficult but they still involved a lot of work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We read the book but almost all of our learning was hands on. Being in IT we spent a lot of time on the computer reading current information and applying it to our projects. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | The program always offers 1-2 sections of most courses each semester, giving students an opportunity to be flexible with their schedule. Outside of the core classes there are many electives available at all different times and mediums (web/classroom). |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | FSU has numerous libraries throughout the campus. The College of Communication and Information have state of the art labs for their students. There is also a new HIT lab that allows students to mine data for healthcare-related IT projects. |
| Social Life | 10 | FSU has something for everyone. It's awesome athletics, has tons of fraternities and sororities, social events, you name it. There is so much to do. |
| Placement Services | 10 | Most students who graduate from the IT Program find a job quickly in a relevant field. Most of my fellow graduates are not only well-employed, but are still with the same employer that they went on to after graduation. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | Not only does FSU have an exceptional career center for when you are in school, they continue to be there for you after you graduate. Professors from the program are also still active with past students. |
University Of Central Florida • Orlando, FL
Studying Management Information Systems (completion in 2010)
• 1/2/2012
"It's one of the best and largest in Florida."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | My recommendation would depend on what career track you're thinking of. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | When I graduated in 2010, the school was planning to get rid of my program. |
| Program Quality | 10 | Excellent program with many resources available. |
| Instruction | 9 | Most of the instructors were very experienced, but you can always get one who does not what he is talking about. |
| How Difficult | 5 | Not easy, not hard. The harder you study, the better you'll do. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Hands-on experience got us ready for the real world, while book reading got us ready for the exams. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Some classes were easier to register for, other were not. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | All kind of resources were available, you just have to familiarize yourself. |
| Social Life | My schedule was limiting, I did not have time to participate in activities. | |
| Placement Services | 10 | Excellent. They bring in recruiters while you're still at the college. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I'm still in touch with my alumni office. |
Broward College • Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Studying Computer Systems Specialist (completion in 2008)
• 1/31/2012
"I'm relatively satisfied. The cost and convenience of the school heavily outweighs the negatives for me. There is a campus in just about every corner of the county. This makes Broward College convenient for those who live or work in any part of the county."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I feel that Broward College would be a very good choice. Cost and convenience beats any major university choice in this general area. You can reach your associate's degree and get 2 years of college under your belt with an easier commute than if you were to go straight to a university. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I would say that Broward College doesn't really have much of a reputation for the program of study I chose. Most students simply go and attempt to complete an associate's degree, and they transfer to a university later. |
| Program Quality | 5 | My school does not provide much hands on training and experience in the classroom. Most classes are merely lecture and written assignments. There is not enough in the way of practical hands on assignments or activities. |
| Instruction | 7 | Professors do have relevant experience and knowledge of the subject areas. I find that, however, some of these faculty members do not seem to care as much. This ends up being a small handful of the total faculty pool, but it is very frustrating when you find a professor who just doesn't care about the quality of instruction. |
| How Difficult | 4 | The academic load is not very stressful or challenging. Many courses are simply a lecture, followed by a simple homework assignment or quiz on Blackboard. You then have your midterm and final exams and those cover most of the work. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | There are some hands on activities, but most classes tend to use the book and lecture method. The few classes that I've seen which have a heavy "hands-on" approach are outstanding. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 8 | Many classes are available day, evening, fully online, and on weekends. Some classes, however, do not have this flexibility, which can be frustrating. Some classes can fill very quickly. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Academic resources are of very good quality. Computer labs are available for all disciplines that require them. Advisors are available on all campuses from 8AM to 7PM. Campuses have a library close by, either run by the school or through a partnership with the county library system. |
| Social Life | 8 | Campuses have several activities, most of which are free or inexpensive. The school offers some trips as well, such as diving and other recreational activities. There are even some study abroad opportunities. |
| Placement Services | 8 | Each campus has a career services center which assists students with job placement. They provide assistance with resume writing and have connections with the public to find job openings. You will often find job postings around campus on flyers and may even browse job information on the school's website. |
| Alumni Network | 7 | The alumni network is good. There are many events and activities that the alumni network hosts, some of which are useful for job seekers, and some others are good just for a fun activity, such as discounted tickets for sporting events or shows. |
Manatee Technical Institute • Bradenton, FL
Studying Computer Repair And Networking (completion in 2006)
• 1/24/2012
"I can see many areas where it could have been better, but for the price and my experience, it was great. I wouldn't trade in my time there for anything."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | maybe | I would recommend the program I took when I took it. However, I do not have enough information to recommend the current program, since I know it has changed. |
| Program Reputation | While I am aware that much of the staff is no longer at the institute and the programs have changed, I do not know what they are like now. Also, I do not have contact with others that are aware of the program or know much about the current program. | |
| Program Quality | 7 | While my schooling at MTI was fantastic, the program needed more self study to be proficient in the field. I know that since I attended, the program has greatly changed, both in staff and courses offered, and possibly not for the better. |
| Instruction | 10 | The staff for the program was very knowledgeable and proficient in their fields. The instructors also created a very fun and casual learning environment that was very enjoyable compared to some of the dryer courses of study. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The program was not difficult for me since I am electronically inclined and this is my area of interest. To those not like myself, the program was difficult. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The program was very hands on. The school is a vocational school and does help to put your hands on the equipment very quickly and very often. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 4 | While I did not have to take both classes at the same time to allow for work, there weren't any evening or weekend class that could be attended. The schedule at the time was closely linked to the K-12 school district's schedules. The schedule may have changed since, though. |
| Academic Facilities | 3 | The facilities for the classes were suited to the programs and the school had a library, although the library was lacking in information for my particular field of study. The teachers always offered to help after hours, but there weren't any tutors or study group support. |
| Social Life | 5 | The school is limited in its resources, so while social interaction between students and instructors and each other was good, there weren't many social events. The annual chili cook off was always a great time and participation in SkillsUSA did raise school spirit and foster healthy competition. |
| Placement Services | When I attended, the position that I still currently hold came from networking with a former student. MTI had nothing to do with my job placement, nor did I seek their help. | |
| Alumni Network | 2 | The school had a very poor alumni network. To my knowledge there isn't one, but I have not gone out to seek the programs either, which keeps me from rating it a 1. |
Tallahassee Community College • Tallahassee, FL
Studying AA (completion in 2004)
• 2/2/2012
"The experience was enriching. I loved the city it was located in."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | It is easier to get into than FSU for most Florida residents. The small class sizes give you a great leg up on college. |
| Program Reputation | 10 | Well known in Tallahassee. Received other more accreditation since I left. |
| Program Quality | 9 | The curriculum was thorough. The technology instruction was up to date. |
| Instruction | 10 | The small class sizes made it easier. This allowed instructors to focus more on the subject matter and answer more questions. |
| How Difficult | 5 | I had prior experience. I loved what I was learning. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | A very good mix was offered. Many classes had labs and extracurricular activities connected to them. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Classes were offered around the clock. There were several online courses. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The tools were ok. Many students had better computers. |
| Social Life | 8 | I was more of a loner on campus. I partied more with students from other colleges in the area. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I didn't really use them. Starting my own business was my goal. |
| Alumni Network | I am not familiar with it. Once I graduated I never looked back. |
Center For Technology Training • Tampa, FL
Studying MCSE (completion in 2011)
• 3/12/2012
"They provided me only with a little resume filler. Unfortunately this degree is a painful amount of debt that I have struggled with for years."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | This field can be self-taught. I would not attend the school if I could do it all over again. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | This school was highly recommended. Unfortunately several others and myself realized it was a shakedown after attending classes. |
| Program Quality | 2 | My school charged me $13,000 and basically handed me material to teach myself. I could have acquired all of this material without burying myself in debt. |
| Instruction | 2 | The instructors at the school were clueless has-beens. They did a good job giving me a generic idea of the concepts of the material, but nothing more. |
| How Difficult | 3 | The work was easy; memorization. Requiring the class to do perform tasks that a technician in the field actually does would have been more valuable. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The school provided valuable hands-on training. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | Learning at your own pace was their product. The classes were on weekends or evenings to accommodate working individuals. |
| Academic Facilities | 5 | The equipment is older and not state of the art. This is actually common in the real IT world, so I guess they can get away with it. |
| Social Life | 2 | This school was not meant for socializing. It was specifically for technical training. |
| Placement Services | 4 | They make an attempt to place students in jobs. Most are temporary, low-paying positions, but the economy isn't in the best shape. |
| Alumni Network | 2 | I made a few contacts that I keep in touch with. It has not benefited me professionally. |
Advanced Technology Center • Daytona Beach, FL
Studying Computer Support Specialist (completion in 2007)
• 3/9/2012
"It was the most fun I've had in a school environment ever. I wish I was better-informed of the job placement and alumni networks."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Please inform the new students on the alumni network and job placement system. I did after graduate. So I'm still proud of that. |
| Program Reputation | It's been 5 years. I haven't gone back since. | |
| Program Quality | 10 | Classes were engaging. The scheduling was good too. |
| Instruction | 10 | The teachers knew what they were doing. Very informative. |
| How Difficult | 5 | It's not for everyone. The more advanced classes take drive to complete. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | We did the assignments from the books. But if you count computers as hands on then it was a hands on oriented establishment. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | I took night classes. They were fun. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | The class rooms were clean and orderly. |
| Social Life | 1 | I only made a few friends. |
| Placement Services | 1 | I was never informed of job placement. |
| Alumni Network | 1 | What alumni network? There was none. |
University Of South Florida • Sarasota, FL
Studying Information Technology (completion in 2009)
• 3/22/2012
"I completed my education and have a diploma from an accredited school however I don't feel as though I was as prepared as I needed to be. Additional topics would have been very beneficial to learn."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | Until the program is restructured and managed better then no. I think some changes need to be made to make it a better program. |
| Program Reputation | 5 | I think the more specific programs can potentially prepare you better for the working world. A general program often does not give you the specifics employers are looking for. |
| Program Quality | 3 | The program was new and a mix of business, programming and computer science. Just not the best for a specialty in the field. |
| Instruction | 7 | Instruction was great but relevance wasn't always applicable to much of what I do on a daily basis. |
| How Difficult | 4 | I think other programs are much more demanding. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | we used both books and hands on tools. We frequently brought tools of our trade to work on in class. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Some campuses were geared towards the feel of the town, whereas others offered courses at all times and online. The campus I attended was setup for working students that took classes in the evenings. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | Excellent resources on campus including library and media resources. Staff availability was also very high. |
| Social Life | I was not at a traditional campus. We did not have much social activities | |
| Placement Services | 10 | I still access career services on a regular basis. It's a good site and a great resource. |
| Alumni Network | 10 | I still have access to my school and professors if needed. I can contact them through multiple avenues. |
University Of South Florida • Tampa, FL
Studying Business Administration (completion in 2007)
• 3/14/2012
"I feel I could have been more satisfied if I had some opportunity to test the real world as part of my studies with a mandatory internship or study abroad program. I graduated and had nothing to offer a potential employer in a tough economic time."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I would recommend it because it has top-notch resources available to assist your education. I would have to have a longer, more detailed discussion though to make sure that person's goals match what the university can do for them. |
| Program Reputation | 8 | Even though I found it difficult to get a job after college, many people I speak to are aware of the program I studied and the impact it has had on our city. When the economy picks up, graduates will have a much easier time due to school's highly positive reputation. |
| Program Quality | 7 | My school is well-known for its business program and has achieved great success. I could not rate it higher because when the economy regressed, USF graduates were not as prepared to be competitive and fell into lesser jobs. |
| Instruction | 8 | I feel all of the professors I had were world-class and really knew how communicate their expertise. The best part was that the instructors were not academics but had a multitude or real world experience. |
| How Difficult | 5 | My main concentration was Marketing and I do not feel it was very difficult. I switched majors from Accounting to Marketing my senior year and was still able to graduate on time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | It was a good mix and really depends on the subject and instructor. I found myself using multiple methods to learn and study. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 10 | Many classes were offered online or in big sessions which are easy to catch up if something is missed. They also had smaller breakout sessions that you choose as part of your schedule so you can easily develop the perfect schedule. |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | My school is ever-expanding and technology is very important to every line of business. They have state of the art computer labs but also manage multiple research labs that are well-known throughout the world. |
| Social Life | 10 | Living in a major city made it easy to socialize. It was very convenient to get a group of friends together to go out; but you can just as easily have a group of non-school friends. We had a large sports following and an on-campus basketball arena so tailgating before football and basketball games was always fun. |
| Placement Services | I did not use many of the services they offer, such as resume writing, because I had to take professional writing courses as part of my study so it is unfair for me to rate them. The only time I used it was to schedule interviews with companies visiting our campus but I did not interact with them too much. | |
| Alumni Network | 10 | They always strive to stay in constant contact and network with other alumni of the school. They do a great job of communicating and setting up appropriate social media sites and websites to get us all the information we need. |
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