Better Jobs, Better Lives, Better Communities
For nearly 100 years, St. Petersburg College has been a valuable and accessible resource for people seeking better lives for their families and fulfillment in their careers.
As we look toward our 100th anniversary in 2027, we continue to educate, empower and engage our students, employees and community. Our three-year Strategic Plan is focused on our pillars of Delivering Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Driving Economic Advancement and Strengthening Our Community, and has been developed through a community of care.
Learn more about our Mission, Visionary Commitments and Values
OUR PROMISE TO STUDENTS
We make these promises to our students:
- We will help you discover your purpose and translate that purpose into a fulfilling career and a meaningful life.
- We will provide opportunities for you to work side-by-side with teacher-scholars to expand immersive learning experiences.
- We will actively seek your ideas, perspectives, and voices.
- We will provide support for your physical, mental, and emotional health.
- We will provide opportunities for you to meaningfully engage with partners beyond campus.
- We will ensure a vibrant College community for all students, faculty, and staff.
OUR PRIORITIES
- Best Place To Work
- Implement Data-Informed Strategies
- No Student Left Behind
- Align Budget and Strategic Plan
- Facilitate Emerging Technologies
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
For nearly 100 years, St. Petersburg College has been a beacon in our community, an invaluable and accessible resource for people seeking better lives for their families and fulfillment in their careers.
We have amplified our role that began in the 1920s, when St. Petersburg residents began talking about the need for an institution of higher learning to provide job skills training to local residents. With the backing of local business and political leaders, St. Petersburg Junior College — Florida’s first two-year college — opened its doors to 102 students and 14 faculty on Sept. 12, 1927. The first graduating class held 48 students.
In 1965, Gibbs Junior College, the area’s predominantly African American college, merged with SPJC. In 2001, when the college became the first in the state to offer bachelor’s degrees, we became St. Petersburg College.
Now a leading and vibrant institution, SPC serves more than 30,000 students each year in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. We are drivers of the economy and dedicate ourselves to helping our students earn the degree that will lead to a better job so they can build a better life.
We accomplish this by employing more than 2,200 faculty and staff who deliver excellence in teaching and learning in programs that lead to high wage jobs or four-year degrees.
The success of our more than 201,000 graduates tells the story. Our average associate degree graduate earns nearly $20,000 more each year than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent. Those with bachelor’s degrees have additional annual earnings of $33,000 per year.
As we celebrate our 97th year, we continue to educate, empower and engage our students, employees and community through our commitment to deliver excellence in teaching and learning, drive economic advancement, and strengthen our community.