Enrollment for the fall 2012 semester at Florida State University Panama City continued an upward trend for the fourth consecutive year increasing by 11.4% from the same time last year. The total fall 2012 headcount is 1,417 as compared to 1,272 for fall 2011. Fall enrollment at FSU Panama City has increased by 44.6% since fall 2008 when headcount was 980.

“In 2009 the FSU Panama City Blue Ribbon Commission established an enrollment growth goal for our campus of 1,400 students by fall 2012.  We are excited to announce that FSU Panama City has exceeded that goal,” stated FSU Panama City Dean Ken Shaw. “With a freshman class joining us in fall 2013, we have some great years to look forward to at FSU Panama City.”  

Increased interest in online degree programs in Social Work, Computer Science, Public Safety and Security and Event Management has contributed to the enrollment increase. Computer Science programs have experienced explosive growth since fall 2011, posting an 86.4% increase in one year. The Computer Science B.S. program is one of only a small number of online programs in the nation that is ABET accredited. ABET, Inc. is the nation’s leading accrediting organization for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. An online Computer Science B.A. degree is also available.

U.S. News and World Reports 2012 collegiate rankings included Florida State University in the top 50 of the nation’s public universities.  FSU was ranked #14 in Forbes 2012 Top 100 Best Buy Colleges. When measuring value, factors such as academic quality, admission rates, retention and the institution’s four-year graduation rate are considered.  All of the 24 degree programs at FSU Panama City provide students the same nationally recognized degree offered by the main campus in Tallahassee.