Excelsior University, an Albany, New York‑based institution that has traditionally delivered education online, opened its first brick‑and‑mortar campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, in October 2025. The new site at 9400 4th Street N. is intended to serve the growing adult‑student population in the Tampa‑St. Petersburg corridor.
Local leadership and strategic goals
President David Schejbal, the university’s Board of Trustees and senior staff selected St. Petersburg because of its rapid growth and the high concentration of veterans in the region. “We want to get the St. Petersburg site fully stabilized and operational,” Schejbal said, adding that success here could lead to additional locations in the area.
Programs tailored for adult learners
The campus currently offers a pre‑licensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing, launched in January, as well as hybrid courses in electrical engineering technology and cybersecurity. Schejbal emphasized that the programs combine online convenience with hands‑on classroom, lab and clinical experiences, matching the “applied job skills” employers seek.
Because Excelsior primarily serves adult students—most of whom have prior college experience—the university also markets its offerings to veterans. “One of the things that attracted us to Florida was the large percentage of veterans,” Schejbal noted, citing roughly 850,000 veterans living between St. Petersburg and Orlando.
Partnerships and future expansion
The St. Petersburg campus was initially shared with Utica University, which used the site for its nursing program before relocating for financial reasons. The partnership allowed Excelsior to accelerate its launch while providing continuity for students.
Looking ahead, Excelsior plans to add more degree options and will introduce its first doctoral program in business administration at the St. Petersburg location in January 2027.
Challenges and outlook
Schejbal acknowledged the competitive landscape of higher education, noting that marketing, enrollment and program development are ongoing challenges for any startup campus. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that the campus will become a catalyst for the university’s long‑term success in Florida.
Excelsior University reports that more than 200,000 individuals have earned associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees since its founding in 1971, and about 17,000 alumni now reside in Florida. The new campus aims to tap into that network and the region’s growing demand for skilled, marketable workers.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
