Nestled in the heart of historic St. Augustine, Flagler College continues to distinguish itself as a premier institution that is deeply committed to academic innovation, workforce readiness and meaningful community partnership. With programs strategically aligned to Northeast Florida’s target industries, Flagler prepares students not only to thrive in today’s evolving workforce, but to lead it.

Success in Northeast Florida

Flagler College offers a comprehensive suite of academic programs that align directly with Northeast Florida’s target industries, ensuring students develop the operational, analytical and technological skills employers demand. Through hands-on coursework and interdisciplinary learning in competitive majors such as business administration, finance, accounting, marketing and international business, the college cultivates future leaders in corporate operations. Flagler’s strong emphasis on real-world consulting, organizational strategy and data-driven decision-making reinforces its commitment to workforce-ready education. In rapidly evolving fields like fintech, students who major or minor in finance and data science gain essential foundations in programming, analytics and financial modeling–skills that fuel innovation across industries.

Students focusing on operations management within the business administration major gain practical experience in supply chain optimization and quality assurance through direct collaborations with local manufacturers. Majors in computer information systems, data science and health science also prepare students for careers at the intersection of healthcare and technology.

Flagler maintains strong partnerships with local industries, giving students valuable applied learning opportunities. Business students regularly collaborate with manufacturing, transportation & logistics and corporate operations firms on real-world projects. The College’s Business Advisory Board further enhances student success by providing mentorship, networking, internships and classroom engagement throughout its programs.

Student & Alumni Stories

Notable Flagler alumni have made a name for themselves in the region. Viv Helwig, Flagler College Class of 2008 and current Board of Trustee member, founded Vested Metals International, a specialty metals supplier for the medical, aerospace, defense and transportation industries. The company has been recognized by Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing private businesses and by the Jacksonville Business Journal as a Fast 50 honoree in 2023. Helwig has served on the St. Johns County Industrial Development Authority and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to serve on the U.S. Central & North Florida District Export Council.

Flagler College junior Pasquale “Puck” Arnone, a Coastal Environmental Science major and Data Science minor, recently completed a prestigious National Science Foundation–funded research internship at the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences. Arnone applied the data science foundation he received at Flagler to study the relationship between soil moisture and hurricane tracks — a rarely explored factor in climate forecasting. Using Python programming, remote sensing, and data visualization, he analyzed regional soil moisture data from multiple Southeastern states before and after Hurricane Helene’s landfall. His work revealed measurable correlations that could improve the accuracy of hurricane path prediction models, providing critical insights for climate resilience and disaster preparedness. This project reflects Flagler College’s growing emphasis on data-driven problem solving across disciplines and the effort to connect students with valuable internship opportunities, preparing students to apply analytical and technological skills to real-world challenges in environmental science, sustainability, and beyond.

Research Opportunities

Flagler fosters a rich undergraduate research culture supported by small class sizes, faculty mentorship and funding opportunities. Through the Office of Undergraduate Research, students can receive grants to gather data, secure materials, present findings or publish research. Students work on projects related to Gopher tortoise ecology, oyster shell reef restoration, water quality research, archaeological fieldwork, public history and criminology. These collaborations have led to co-authored publications, national conference presentations and fieldwork experiences rarely offered at the undergraduate level.

Flagler also recently opened a new Modular Science Lab and now offers a bachelor’s in biology, which expands opportunities for STEM-focused students seeking direct preparation for high-growth industries. Through the Flagler Forward comprehensive campaign, the college is also investing in student scholarships, endowed faculty positions, innovative academic programming and the FlagSHIP initiative, which emphasizes study abroad opportunities, community partnerships and undergraduate research.

Flagler stands apart with programs that leverage the unique ecological, cultural and historic landscape of Northeast Florida. The College’s location enables immersive learning in Coastal & Environmental Science, Hospitality & Tourism Management and Business & Entrepreneurship. Another hallmark is the innovative CORE Experience–a reimagined general education curriculum focused on nine career-ready “key literacies.” This model builds critical thinking, adaptability and leadership skills that are essential to any industry.

The Flagler College Difference

Flagler’s newest mentorship model, From Saint to Saint: Teach It Forward, pairs upper-level education majors with first-year students entering the program. Led by Dr. Sandra Davis, this initiative strengthens academic readiness, fosters community and addresses regional workforce needs by preparing future educators for Northeast Florida classrooms.

Flagler supports special and opportunity populations through multiple avenues. Waived application fees for veterans, active-duty personal and their families, tailored academic credit evaluations for military-affiliated students, and the Public Administration Degree (PAD) program for adult learners and working professionals seeking advancement in public-sector roles.

Flagler also recently completed a $150 million restoration of Ponce Hall, preserving the historic integrity of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon while upgrading residential spaces and technology for modern learners. The college also launched the History Maker in Residence program, bringing nationally recognized leaders to campus to engage students with transformative ideas related to creativity, leadership and social impact.