Founded in 1934, Jacksonville University continues to be a premier private college located in Northeast Florida. In 2024, the university celebrated their 90th anniversary highlighting almost a decade of serving the Jacksonville community by providing a commitment to innovation, leadership and service. Jacksonville University (JU) has been recognized by multiple outlets regarding their top-tier education system — U.S. News & World Report recently ranked JU among the top universities in the south and Forbes recognized the school as one of America’s top 500 colleges.

Success in Northeast Florida

With a wide variety of fields to study, including several of the region’s target industries, JU provides education in areas where Northeast Florida is seeing growth. Some of Jacksonville’s target industries that are recognized at this university are technology services, financial services and corporate operations.

MBA Programs in general business, management, accounting and finance, along with graduate programs in organizational leadership and applied business analytics, set up the next generation of workers for success in the corporate operations and financial services industries. There are also various programs in the technology services industry such as computer science, cybersecurity and the STEAM Institute. JU partners with local healthcare providers such as The Mayo Clinic, Baptist Health, UF Health, Florida Blue and Ascension St. Vincent’s, among others, through its health science programs. The STEAM Institute teaches students how to integrate technology with art and promote innovation in technology services.

JU also has many other specialized programs at their institution that align with the region’s target industries like nursing, aviation flight operations and management, and mechanical & electrical engineering.

Recent Milestones and Achievements

Jacksonville University continues to achieve remarkable milestones that position it as a leader in higher education. The College of Law’s inaugural class made history by scoring the 2nd highest bar pass rate in the state of Florida, demonstrating the exceptional quality of legal education at JU. The School of Nursing’s Accelerated BSN program earned the #1 ranking in the state, further cementing JU’s reputation for excellence in healthcare education.

In a groundbreaking partnership, Jacksonville University joined forces with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) to establish LECOM at Jacksonville University. This collaboration brings comprehensive medical education to Northeast Florida, with the campus set to welcome its inaugural class in August 2026. This development represents a transformative addition to the region’s healthcare education infrastructure and will significantly enhance the local talent pipeline for medical professionals.

Student, Alumni & Faculty Stories

JU sets their students up for success and that has been proven by the numerous achievements their alumni and current students have received. Emily Soud, a Jacksonville University senior, was selected for the highly competitive White House Internship Program, where she served in the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

Dr. Lisa Sutherland exemplifies JU’s commitment to excellence in leadership and education. Since joining Jacksonville University in 2023, Dr. Sutherland has led the University Honors Program with a steadfast commitment to elevating the student’s experience and success. She founded the Honors Living Learning Community, expanded honors offerings and currently co-leads the University’s 2025-2030 strategic planning process. Before joining JU, Sutherland founded and led Sutherland Group, LLC, a global consulting firm advising major brands including Walmart Inc., YUM! Brands and Kraft-Heinz. She served as chief nutrition advisor to Walmart’s executive team and led the company’s healthier food initiative in collaboration with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign. Dr. Sutherland, currently serving as Interim Dean of the Davis College of Business and Technology, brings more than 20 years of experience in both academic and corporate sectors.

Apart from the student body, JU has many faculty members that add to why this school is a premier choice. Captain Angela Masson holds various achievements in the aviation industry before becoming a faculty member at JU. She was the first woman on the Boeing 747 and contributed to gender equality by pursuing the topic of organizational discrimination in the Air Force for her doctoral dissertation. Under the leadership of program director Captain Matt Tuohy, JU’s School of Aviation has seen remarkable growth, with enrollment climbing from 220 to nearly 317 solo students since 2022. The program is making significant strides in diversity, with 20% of its pilot students being women — more than three times the national average of 6%.

Some other notable faculty members are Dr. Murat Tiryakioglu, an internationally recognized researcher and professor of engineering, Dr. Bradley McKibben, an associate professor for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and Dr. Bryan Franks, a shark biologist.

The Jacksonville University Difference

JU understands the importance of innovation and has incorporated AI into a lot of their programs. The University has a Center for Cybersecurity and has added a hyper-realistic simulation that recreates cyber threat situations and real-world networks. The simulation provides feedback to the student and even offers session recording and the option to create custom training sessions. JU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program also incorporates advanced technology into their coursework through simulation labs and virtual reality — this allows students to use their clinical skills they have been taught in virtual hospital environments.

The University is also continuing to grow and expand. The Cost Honors College officially opened in the fall of 2025 and provides countless one-of-a-kind opportunities for students. Since 2013, the University has expanded from three colleges, five schools and two institutes to today’s five colleges, nine schools and three institutes, and established hundreds of partnerships with world-class companies, healthcare providers and community organizations.

With their new growth and additions, JU is constantly evolving and remains a leading school in the region and beyond.