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Florida’s Most Uneducated City Is Revealed

The importance of education in obtaining success and riches in life is frequently emphasized. However, there are significant regional differences in educational achievement in the United States. The stark differences…

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The importance of education in obtaining success and riches in life is frequently emphasized. However, there are significant regional differences in educational achievement in the United States. The stark differences between the most and least educated cities in each state are highlighted by a survey compiled by 24/7 Wall St. Florida's least educated city is about to be revealed.

How The Data Was Compiled

This analysis used data from the 2019 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, which covered all cities, towns, villages, boroughs, and census-designated places with populations greater than 25,000. The lowest percentage of adults aged 25 and older who hold a bachelor's degree or above was used to rank cities.

The report also provided information on the percentages of adults with different levels of education, such as those with just a high school diploma, those with some college or an associate's degree, those with a bachelor's degree, and those with a graduate or professional degree. The survey also included the median incomes for each educational level and the unemployment rates for people aged 25 to 64.

Florida's least educated city is...

According to the report, is West Little River, a census-designated place in Miami-Dade County. Compared to the state average of 29.9%, only 10.7% of adults in West Little River had a bachelor's degree or above. This percentage is significantly lower than the 32.1% national average.

All things considered... it is still considered a Miami hidden gem:

In addition, West Little River had a high proportion of adults without a high school diploma, at 18.6%, over double the state average of 10.3%. The median income for this group was only $21,459 per year, which is significantly less than the $45,536 national median.

The research also showed that compared to the state norms of 28.8% and 11.4%, respectively, West Little River had lower percentages of adults with some college or an associate's degree (24.4%) and a graduate or professional degree (10.9%). These groups' median earnings were also lower than state and national medians.

The high unemployment rate in West Little River, which has averaged 6.4% over the past five years, may be related to the area's poor educational attainment. During the same time period, this rate was higher than both the state average (4.7%) and the national average (4.6%). A person's capacity to seek higher education or land a better-paying job might be greatly impacted by unemployment.

To read the full report and to see each states most uneducated cities, click here.

The 13 Highest Rated Community Colleges In Florida

Tuition for universities has become insanely high, even for in-state students. So many high school graduates are opting to spend their first few undergrad years at community colleges. There are a couple of no-brainer reasons why students are making the switch. First, it's helping them save thousands on tuition for the same courses. Secondly, they get to skip the stress of making the perfect college application since community colleges have 100% admission rates. In this post, we highlighted the 13 highest-rated community colleges in Florida. Some are right here in the Tampa Bay area.

This decision is not one to make lightly. Before spending money on tuition, students will want to decide which field they would like to study. Community colleges are great starts for trade and vocational focuses as well as STEM opportunities. If they plan on transferring to a university to finish their degree, they should confirm that their credits will be able to transfer. Location is also a big factor to consider because community colleges do not offer students to live on campus.

Why Should Florida Students Choose Community College?

There are a lot of other perks about attending community college. The classrooms are much smaller than a university so students can have personalized instruction and better connections with their professors. Community colleges also tend to be more flexible for students with busy schedules and have tons of opportunities for online learning. If students want to get a head start on their college courses, they should consider enrolling in dual enrollment.

With the help of Niche.com, we made a list of the 13 highest-rated community colleges in Florida. The ranking is based on analysis of academic, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. Click here to learn more about their methodology. 

These are the 13 Highest-Rated Community Colleges In Florida (Updated 3/18/2024)

#1. Lorenzo Walker Technical College

Location: Naples, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $7,795/year

Popular majors: Automotive Mechanics, Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN), and Dental Assisting.

#2. Marion Technical College

Location: Ocala, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $9,080/year

Popular majors: Fire Science and Fire Fighting, Truck, Bus, and Commercial Vehicle Operation, and Licensed Practical Nurse Training. Learn more here.

#3. Pinellas Technical College - St. Petersburg & Clearwater

Location: St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $10,901 ($7,733 at Clearwater campus)

Popular majors: Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN), HVAC and Refrigeration Engineering Technician, and Child Care Provider.

#4. North Florida College

Location: Madison, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $3,910

Popular majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic)

#5. Sheridan Technical College

Location: Hollywood, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $5,077

Popular majors: Esthetician and Skin Care, Truck, Bus, and Commercial Vehicle Operation, and Child Care Provider.

#6. Manatee Technical College

Location: Bradenton, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $4,233

Popular majors: Esthetician and Skin Care, Fire Science and Fire Fighting, and Cosmetology.

#7. Orange Technical College - Mid-Florida Campus

Location: Orlando, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $9,749

Popular majors: Electrician, Machine and Metal Working, and Truck, Bus, and Commercial Vehicle Operation

#8. Florida Gateway College

Location: Lake City, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $2,803

Popular majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, and Nursing

#9. McFatter Technical College

Location: Davie, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $11,094

Popular majors: Fire Science and Fire Fighting, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT Paramedic), and Game Design and Interactive Media.

#10. Chipola College

Location: Marianna, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $4,360

Popular majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, and Nursing.

#11. Withlacoochee Technical College

Location: Inverness, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $3,564

Popular majors: Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration, Police and Criminal Science, and Welding.

#12. Gulf Coast State College

Location: Panama City, FL

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $5,851

Popular majors: Liberal Arts and Humanities, Nursing, and Police and Criminal Science

#13. Okaloosa Technical College

Location: Fort Walton Beach, Fl

Acceptance rate: 100%

Net price: $6,618

Popular majors: Cosmetology, Licensed Practical Nurse Training (LPN), and Computer Systems Technician

Jen was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. She’s been with Beasley Media Group since 2022. In her spare time, you can find her at Tampa Bay Lightning games, Tampa Bay breweries, or the beach. Catch up on Jen’s content about the highest-rated restaurants/bars in Tampa, things-to-do around the area, and upcoming concerts.