MELBOURNE, FLA. — Like the rockets that blaze through the sky over campus, Florida Tech continues to rise.
Enrollment is surging; students are engaging with university programs and communities at unprecedented levels; research opportunities are plentiful as spending in this area across campus is up double digits over 2024; and campus itself is evolving in actual and proposed ways with an eye toward its very bright future.
This is the state of Florida Tech presented by President John Nicklow to hundreds of faculty and staff recently at the Gleason Performing Arts Center, where he offered his fall State of the University address under the theme, “Building Toward Our Future.”
“We’ve come a long way, with much more on the horizon,” Nicklow said.
Here’s a closer look at three key areas Nicklow addressed, and please see video segments from the address below this article.
Enrollment
It is almost a broken record, all these broken records. Since 2020, total enrollment has risen each year, exceeding the record totals from the previous year. For 2025, Nicklow said, total enrollment exceeded 10,000 for the first time, fueled by more than 1,000 first-time-in-college (FTIC) students – another all-time high – and a jump in Florida Tech’s fall-to-fall retention rate.
“This is great progress and represents steady, sustainable growth,” he said.
Buoyed by the university’s innovative Boundless Opportunity Grant program, which helps make Florida Tech more financially accessible for high-achieving students with unmet financial need in Brevard and three surrounding counties, Florida-born students comprise nearly 43% of the fall 2025 FTIC cohort.
Research
Florida Tech’s research and research-oriented partnerships are both on the rise, Nicklow said.
Reportable research expenditures – where the researchers must report to the funding agency about their research – surged 18% between fiscal 2024 and 2025 to about $21 million.
“We want to continue taking steps to nurture that growth,” Nicklow said.
An earlier report from the provost’s office highlighted other increases over that period, such as a 34% rise in average research expenditures per tenure or tenure track faculty and a 42% increase in the average grant size.
The university has entered powerful partnerships that will also supercharge research opportunities and impact, Nicklow said: Florida Tech is one of 14 schools in the newly formed Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology, and it was recently added to the Florida University Space Research Consortium.
“These forward-facing efforts create new, impactful research opportunities for our faculty and our students—and that’s what it’s all about,” Nicklow said.
Student Engagement
Student engagement is an important facet of college. A student who is involved and feels supported does better academically, stays in college longer and finds more success with personal and professional development.
Nicklow told attendees said that across multiple areas, students at Florida Tech are deeply engaged, are utilizing services and are really extracting all they can from their time on campus. This semester has seen an above-average 80% overall participation rate in campus programming, with first-year engagement exceeding 93% and Living Learning Communities at a whopping 99% participation.
“This is a testament to students finding connection and belonging in our residential communities,” Nicklow said.
And a record 1,455 students attended Florida Tech’s Fall all-majors career fair, which boasted 85 employers from aerospace and defense to biotech and accounting. Student engagement with Career Services has increased significantly overall, Nicklow noted.
This growth, he said, is “realized from the collaboration between the office, our professional academic advisors and faculty mentors. This is great synergy benefiting our students.”
Quick Hits
>> College of Aeronautics surge: The college experienced another year of substantial growth and now boasts cumulative growth over the last 10 years of 144%. The college works diligently to innovate and is establishing itself as a leader in Advanced Air Mobility.
>> Babcock Street pedestrian bridge: The Board of Trustees has approved a pedestrian bridge across Babcock Street as part of Florida Tech’s overall master plan. Funding has been identified and approved and the target completion is set for spring 2027. “This will be a critical safety addition for our students as the new housing comes online,” Nicklow said.
>> Crimson Crossing video: Another cornerstone of Florida Tech’s growth is Crimson Crossing, the six-story, 556-bed residence hall being built on the corner of Babcock and University Boulevard. Nicklow shared a brief video of his recent tour of the structure.
>> More parking: Nicklow said the university is paving the Varsity Training Center parking lot to add more than 100 new parking spots.
