There are more than 60,000 students attending the three largest colleges in Leon County. These colleges are Florida State University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), and Tallahassee Community College.

Florida State University: FSU was founded in 1851. Florida State’s nationally recognized academic programs are offered for the Arts, business, film, law, medicine, politics, and sciences. FSU has many satellite campuses around the world and an enrollment of more than 40,000 students.

In 1990, FSU was awarded the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory that is shared with the University of Florida and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. FSU won out over MIT and other competing universities. The lab is used by faculty, students, and visiting scientists from around the world. It is used to research and test high performing magnetic systems for advancement in physics, biology, bioengineering, chemistry, and other sciences.

Florida A & M University: The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University was founded in 1887. It is one of the eleven public state institutions in the Florida State University System. FAMU has more than 12,000 students. The school is known for their award winning marching band called the “Marching 100.” The university offers 62 bachelors degrees and up to eleven PhD degree programs. It’s highly recognized schools are the College of Pharmacy, School of Business and Industry, and School of Architecture.

Tallahassee Community College: TCC started in 1966 to offer post secondary education for Leon County and surrounding counties. In 2005-2006, TCC ranked 19 nationwide for two-year institutions in the total number of associate degrees awarded. Close to 75% of all TCC graduates move onto a university within one year of graduation.

Four year degrees are available at the TCC campus through partnerships with Flagler College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Barry University and St. Leo University.