LAKELAND, FL — Florida Polytechnic University welcomed a record 2,342 students for the 2026-27 academic year, marking a 35% increase in total enrollment over the past two years, according to the university.
Florida Poly, Florida’s only public university dedicated exclusively to STEM, had more than 1,700 students in 2024 and more than 1,900 in 2025. The university aims to reach 3,000 students by 2030.
About 1,035 new students joined Florida Poly this year, including approximately 740 first-time college students. The incoming class also includes graduate and transfer students and the university’s first cohort of student-athletes.
To accommodate its growth, Florida Poly welcomed 32 new faculty members and introduced bachelor’s degree programs in aerospace engineering and biomedical sciences. The biomedical sciences program includes an accelerated six-year BS/DO pathway with the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Campus housing has already reached capacity. Florida Poly expects to begin work on a fourth residence hall featuring a 600-seat dining hall. The university is also planning a 138,400-square-foot Student Achievement Center, expected to open in fall 2028.
SOURCE: CITY OF LAKELAND
