Florida's top-ranked community college offering affordable associate and bachelor's degrees with guaranteed transfer pathways.
Santa Fe College offers over 50 accredited associate degree programs in technology and applied sciences, including dental assisting, automotive technology, air conditioning repair, and zoo animal technology. The college also provides nine bachelor's degrees in accounting, clinical laboratory science, early childhood education, health services administration, industrial biotechnology, information systems technology, multimedia and video production technology, nursing, and organizational management. All programs are accredited by SACSCOC and many by specialized external agencies including CODA (dental), CAAHEP (allied health), and NAACLS (clinical laboratory sciences).
The main Northwest Campus spans 175 acres in northwest Gainesville and opened in 1972. Santa Fe operates six additional centers across Alachua and Bradford counties, including the Andrews Center in Starke, Blount Center downtown, and the Perry Center for Emerging Technologies in Alachua. The Lawrence W. Tyree Library, a $10 million facility that opened in 2002, features study rooms, computer stations, and comprehensive online resources. The college is home to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo and Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, both open to the public. Athletics compete in NJCAA Region 8 (Mid-Florida Conference) under the Saints mascot.
Santa Fe College accepts first-time freshmen, transfer students, returning students, international students, and dual enrollment high school students. The college is designated a Military Friendly School and Purple Star Campus. Guaranteed transfer agreements exist with University of Florida, FIU, New College of Florida, UNF, USF, FAMU, and UVI. The college emphasizes affordability, with 2-year associate degree costs approximately $13,984 compared to $19,712–$25,440 at public universities.
Santa Fe College achieved the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, recognizing it as the top community college in the United States. The college was also named a Top 10 community college by the Aspen Institute in 2012 and 2014. Current performance metrics show an 84% overall student success rate and 97% vocational job placement rate. The college is ranked #1 in the U.S. for workforce development by 2030. Notable alumni include U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, former FEMA Director Craig Fugate, and professional baseball player Mallex Smith.