Nova Southeastern University is a private, not-for-profit university in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, founded in 1964.
Nova Southeastern University is a private, not-for-profit institution located at 3300 S. University Drive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate's, baccalaureate, master's, educational specialist, doctoral, and professional degrees. The university's 22,000+ enrolled students come from more than 115 countries and all 50 U.S. states. Its stated mission is to deliver academic programs in a dynamic, innovative environment.
Nova Southeastern University was founded in 1964 as Nova University of Advanced Technology, a graduate research institution rooted in the physical and social sciences. In 1994, Nova University merged with Southeastern University of Health Sciences, which had added colleges of Pharmacy, Optometry, Allied Health, Medical Sciences, and Dental Medicine, to form Nova Southeastern University. The university later moved to the former site of Forman Field, a World War II auxiliary airfield, in Davie. The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine graduated its first class of doctors in 2022.
The university offers more than 130 degree programs across 12 colleges, 7 of which are healthcare-related. It is classified as an R1 research university with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and it is one of 59 universities nationwide recognized by Carnegie for both high research activity and community engagement. NSU has more than 250 sponsored research projects. Its vision is to be recognized as a leading professional-dominant, doctoral research university.
NSU has 11 campus locations. Campus facilities listed by the university include the Alvin Sherman Library, the Martin and Gail Press NSU Health Library, the Panza Maurer Law Library, the Don Taft University Center, Rick Case Arena, and the RecPlex, which includes an outdoor pool and patio, a rock climbing wall, and group exercise studios. The NSU Sharks have won 15 NCAA Division II National Championships, including the 2025 Men's Basketball title.
NSU's programs hold a range of professional accreditations, including LCME full accreditation for its M.D. program, ABET accreditation for computer science and engineering programs, and American Bar Association accreditation for the Shepard Broad College of Law. The H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship became an accredited member of AACSB International in 2023. The university's M.D. program is also a member of the Association of American Medical Colleges.