Florida's public community college spanning three counties with strong athletics and growing bachelor's programs.
College of Central Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, Associate in Arts, and Associate in Science degrees as well as certificates. The college began offering bachelor's degree programs in 2010, expanding beyond its traditional two-year offerings. Enrollment by program shows 63% in Associate in Arts, 20.8% in Associate in Science/Applied Science, 10.1% in baccalaureate, and smaller percentages in vocational certificates and other programs. The college operates three campuses and three additional sites, including the Appleton Museum of Art and a Vintage Farm dedicated to agricultural and equine studies education.
The college maintains three main campuses: Ocala (9,546 students), Citrus in Lecanto (4,264 students), and Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus in Chiefland (1,872 students), plus the Hampton Center in West Ocala. Each campus hosts its own Student Life organization with over 50 student clubs collectively across all locations. The student body is diverse, with 54.7% White, 15.6% Hispanic, 14.1% Black, 3.1% Asian, and 1.6% American Indian/Pacific Islander enrollment. The majority of students (49%) are aged 18–24, with 20.8% aged 25–34.
College of Central Florida competes in the Mid-Florida Conference of the NJCAA Region VIII. The Patriots field teams in men's and women's basketball, baseball, fast-pitch softball, and women's volleyball (though volleyball and basketball programs were canceled after the 2019–2020 seasons). The college has won multiple national championships, including the men's basketball NJCAA title in 2013 and historic tennis championships in 1963, 1981, and 2001. Notable alumni include MLB players Brian Buscher, Mike Figga, and Bill Hurst, as well as NFL player Clinton Hart.
College of Central Florida was ranked among the top 150 colleges in the nation for quality by the Aspen Institute College Excellence program in 2011, 2013, and 2017. The college maintains an endowment of $118 million as of 2025 and is led by President James Henningsen, who assumed the position in 2012.