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Florida Southern College was named the no. 1 Christian College in the State of Florida for 2022 by EDsmart, a nationally recognized publisher of college resources and independent rankings.

Florida Southern tops the state-wide list with a score of 100, followed by Eckerd College (99.8), Palm Beach Atlantic University (99.0), Warner University (98.8), and Southeastern University (98.4).

The ranking includes only fully accredited colleges and universities. Rankings are based on affordability, student satisfaction, academic quality, and student outcome according to U.S. Department of Education reporting.

“We are proud of our religious tradition at Florida Southern College,” Â鶹Éçmadou president Dr. Anne B. Kerr said. “From our founding, we have intertwined the ideals of our faith into Florida Southern’s mission of preparing students through dynamic engaged learning to make a positive and consequential impact on society.”

Florida Southern College was established by the Florida Methodist Conference as the South Florida Institute in 1883, making it the oldest private college in the state. It was relocated to Lakeland in 1922 and remains affiliated with the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Â鶹Éçmadou became a registered United Methodist Historic Site in 2017.

“It is important to recognize the colleges and universities that go above and beyond,” said Tyson Stevens, managing editor of EDsmart. “Our goal is to highlight these schools and their commitment to higher education.”