Here are some tips for selecting schools, based on an analysis comparing each school to all others across dozens of factors:
Schools Concentrating On Software Engineers For Systems
- Focus: For schools with a focus on this career area, look at Full Sail, Miami Dade College, Valencia Community College, and Broward College.
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, Full Sail, Beacon, and Eckerd.
- Dorms: For a residential campus environment, take note of Clearwater Christian, Beacon, Stetson University, and Webber International University.
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
Sort Reviews By:Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studying Computer Engineering (completion in 1996)
• 8/12/2011
"I was very satisfied with my (incomplete) UF education. It certainly prepared me for a career - I'm just not working in that career."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | no | For people who want to do what I do: a combination of DBA, Server Admin, programming, and design - they're better off at a community college or a trade school. They don't need the advanced theory and concepts that they learn at a high-end university. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | Among public universities, there are very few schools that have the reputation of UF. Especially within this region, UF has a great reputation as an engineering school. |
| Program Quality | 9 | UF has very few public school peers for engineering schools. It was a very tough course of study, and I feel that had I completed my degree in that field, that I would have excelled. |
| Instruction | 7 | I am working outside of my degree, so this is tough to answer. There were concepts that I learned that I have applied to my work, but no direct experiences. |
| How Difficult | 8 | As a top-tier engineering school, UF's engineering program was quite difficult. The course load was heavy with high end math and pure science. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | This depended on the class. Programming classes and labs were hands-on, while some classes were all lectures. It was a good, appropriate mix. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 5 | I only took classes at UF on a full-time undergraduate basis. The school was very flexible in allowing me to schedule my classes all in mornings. At the time, there were no online classes, and I had no desire to take night or weekend classes. |
| Academic Facilities | 7 | The school had excellent resources. Professors and study groups were available. Labs were well stocked and not overly filled. There were several large libraries, and when I went there, there was a huge array (for then) of computers available for use. |
| Social Life | 10 | UF has a bit of a reputation as a "party school." In my third year there, they won the national championship in football. There was never a lack of social interaction. |
| Placement Services | 5 | I did not use UF's career services. I am not able to answer this question. |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I don't know this answer. I never availed myself of UF alumni. |
Florida State University • Tallahassee, FL
Studying Computer Science (completion in 2000)
• 1/8/2012
"FSU is a great school. It's definitely the best in the state of Florida, and the CS program was very enjoyable."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | Someone can get a solid CS education at FSU. They can also have a lot of fun at a great campus and very active school. |
| Program Reputation | 7 | FSU is not known as a top CS school, but it is still respected. Other schools offer CS as an engineering degree, as compared to the arts degree I received. |
| Program Quality | 8 | Computer Science was a challenging and rewarding program in school. While not known for the most technical CS program, it was still very comprehensive. |
| Instruction | 9 | Classes in theory and practical programming were clear. Theory classes were especially interesting, including Operating Systems and Assembly. |
| How Difficult | 5 | The classes were average to easy for the most part. Database theory was particularly difficult at times. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | Class objectives were frequently fulfilled by lab work with computers. Many of the instructors were also the authors of the material used. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | I took all of my classes in a traditional schedule. I did not investigate other alternatives for taking classes. | |
| Academic Facilities | 10 | FSU has great libraries and multiple computer labs for conducting work. The resources available for math and computer science are particularly deep. |
| Social Life | 10 | FSU is an awesome school with a great campus, atmosphere, and football team. I had fun my entire time there and attended many events with other students. |
| Placement Services | I did not use these services while in school. I received multiple job offers so I began work as soon as I left school. | |
| Alumni Network | 5 | I do not engage with the alumni network. I receive mailings from them a couple of times a year. |
Full Sail University • Winter Park, FL
Studying Web Design & Development (completion in 2011)
• 1/25/2012
"I loved my degree and the online system. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good online degree program."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Would Recommend? | yes | I had a great experience. I plan to return for a Master's degree. I would recommend this degree program to anyone looking for a creative, online degree. |
| Program Reputation | My program was pretty new when I was enrolled, so I am not sure what the view of graduates is outside of the program. The school is looked on favorably in other industries. | |
| Program Quality | 10 | I already had a good background in web design and development, but I increased my knowledge 20-fold through this program. |
| Instruction | 10 | We not only learned the major languages and their usages, but we were also taught how to work with clients, do proper paperwork, and so on. It was very in-depth. We were also able to work with a career leads supervisor to find work once we graduated. |
| How Difficult | 9 | Especially in the middle and ending months of the degree, it becomes very intense as there is a lot of work to be done in a short amount of time. |
| Hands-On vs. Bookish | The online degree was great because it was a perfect mix of book and hands-on learning. The books would set up the basis and serve as a touchstone while you were constantly working with programs and languages in order to create. | |
| Schedule Flexibility | 7 | Their degrees are fast paced but pretty flexible. I took the online version of the degree, which was 24 months long. The online courses were 1 class per month with standard college holidays. They also offer a 90 day leave of absence option and the ability to retake classes should you need to. |
| Academic Facilities | I was an online student so I did not have access to physical campus facilities. Their online program provided plenty of interaction and help opportunities. | |
| Social Life | 5 | As an online student, I did not have access to traditional social environments. However, the online environment was inviting and allowed students from all programs and classes to connect at any time. |
| Placement Services | 5 | They provided job opportunities close to our graduation, but it is also up to the students to reach out. They are always available, even after graduating, to help you find a job. |
| Alumni Network | 8 | The school has great connectivity between students, teachers, and alumni while going to school and after graduation. You are always able to stay in contact with those people and resources you may need. |
Online Course Finder
Find the path to your
education in 3 easy steps.