Flagler College

What is the history of Flagler College?

Flagler College opened in 1968 in Saint Augustine, Florida, as a private liberal arts college. Its defining campus building is the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, built by railroad developer Henry Flagler and opened in 1888.

Converting the hotel into an academic building gave the college a distinctive physical setting: classrooms and student spaces occupy part of Saint Augustine's historic downtown rather than a separate, enclosed campus. The building's earlier life also explains the college's name. Today, Flagler offers undergraduate programs across the arts, humanities, sciences, education, and business, along with a smaller graduate offering.

What are the faculties and departments at Flagler College?

Flagler College is primarily an undergraduate institution with programs spanning liberal arts and career-oriented fields. Students can explore subjects such as business administration, accounting, education, psychology, communication, criminology, history, and the visual and performing arts.

Its academic structure includes schools and departments that bring related subjects together rather than a large set of separate professional colleges. Program choice matters: a student considering teacher preparation, for example, should examine that program's field-placement and licensure requirements, while an arts applicant should check whether a portfolio or audition applies. The academic catalog is the appropriate place to confirm a major's current courses, prerequisites, and degree requirements.

What is the location of Flagler College?

Flagler College is in downtown Saint Augustine on Florida's northeast coast. Its historic buildings sit within the city rather than on an isolated suburban campus, making local streets and businesses part of students' everyday surroundings.

That location can be convenient for walking between campus and downtown destinations, but commuters should account for parking rules and the traffic associated with a busy visitor area. Jacksonville International Airport is the principal regional airport for students traveling longer distances. First-year students planning to bring a car should pay particular attention to campus parking eligibility: reported college policy does not permit them to register or park one on campus.

What is the mission and vision of Flagler College?

Flagler College describes its educational purpose in terms of liberal arts learning, individual development, and preparation for responsible participation in communities and careers. Its approach combines broad coursework with study in a major rather than treating professional preparation and general education as separate goals.

Those are the college's stated priorities, not independently measured outcomes. Prospective students can assess how they appear in practice by comparing the general-education curriculum, major requirements, advising arrangements, and opportunities for applied work. Flagler is a private college; applicants should not assume it has a religious affiliation simply because it is private.