Florida Institute of Technology

Thirty-seven cents
That’s all it took to launch Florida Institute of Technology back in 1958. 

While sitting around a table at a local bar one night, he voiced his concern about the lack of higher education for the engineers and scientists flooding Brevard County to work for NASA. A friend of Keuper’s pulled out the only money he had in his pocket, 37 cents, and slapped it on the table. “There’s your first donation, Jerry. Now, go build that college.” 

And he did.

What started as a few small classrooms is now a global research university, ranked as a Tier One Best National University by U.S. News & World Report. Surrounded by companies and organizations like SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Harris Corporation, Boeing, Raytheon, and NASA, Florida Tech knows the importance of hands-on experience, cutting-edge research, and high-tech innovation.

Worldwide demand for graduates specializing in science, technology, engineering, computing, aviation, business, and mathematics is high. But competition is fierce. Students choose Florida Tech due to its amazing location in the heart of the “Space Coast” and the expertise of its world-renowned faculty. But what makes our students truly stand out is hands-on experience.

From the moment a student steps on campus, they take classes in their major and research alongside professors on real-world projects. 

Through cooperative education and internships, students learn exactly what top employers are looking for. Our graduates often go on to work full time for these global companies, putting their expertise to use as computer scientists, ocean engineers, marine biologists, aeronautical engineers, astrobiologists, and physicists, just to name a few.

Florida Tech alumna Amy Simon, now a Senior Scientist for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, attributes her experience at Florida Tech as a stepping stone to the goals she has achieved in her career.

“My degree—Space Science—was unique,” Simon said. “When I first started working with NASA, I could talk to engineers more easily. Since I had an undergrad research position, I had already attended science meetings, and I had more experience with public speaking than other grads.”

Undergrads also collaborate with other students across multiple departments. Each year Florida Tech’s Science and Engineering students showcase their scientific discoveries at the Northrop Grumman Engineering and Science Student Design Showcase.

For graduating seniors, the event represents years of course work and hands-on learning experiences put to the test through project-based learning. Senior Design helps students gain highly sought-after workplace skills like collaboration, communication, and complex problem solving.

“Senior Design definitely prepared me the most, as it was a good taste of what it’s like to work on a project in the real world,” said Jennifer Geehan, Florida Tech graduate student and Space X intern. “You work with a team, you solve problems as they arise, order parts, deal with delays and setbacks, and make sure everything works together and doesn’t affect the other systems.”

Just because Florida Tech students work hard doesn’t mean they don’t play hard too. This beachside community is known for its surfing culture. In fact, the Surf Channel ranked Florida Tech as one of the top 10 universities for surfers. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, our students don’t mess around when it comes to watersports. 

Florida Tech is also known for its dynamic international student body. Our students come from over 120 different countries, giving this small university big, global connections. It really is a small world. 

Speaking of which, you can ride “It’s a Small World” any time you want, since Orlando’s Walt Disney World is only an hour away from campus. Of course, that’ll cost a little more than 37 cents.