Indian River State College, known to students and locals as IRSC or the pronunciation of the acronym, “the ersk,” is a state college based in Ft. Pierce. It is a member of the Florida College System.
While the school’s main campus is located in Ft. Pierce, branch campuses can be found in the nearby towns of Okeechobee, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, and Vero Beach. Classes and training are also offered at other facilities in the surrounding area as well as online.
| Overall Score (about) | Insufficient Data |
| Total Cost On-Campus Attendance | $3,764 |
| Admission Success rate | N/A |
| Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty | 21 : 1 |
| Retention (full-time / part-time) | N/A / N/A |
| Enrollment Total (all students) | 16,686 |
Founded in 1959 as Indian River Junior College, the institution went through multiple name and location changes before beginning its transition to a four-year college. IRSC received its current name in 2008.
IRSC is committed to student success. The school offers over 150 programs that can lead to Bachelor’s Degrees, Associate Degrees, Technical Certificates, and Applied Technology Diplomas. Recently-added programs of study that have become popular with students include math and science teacher education, exceptional student education, nursing, management, public safety, and healthcare administration.
The college offers a Dual Enrollment program that allows local area high school students to get a head start on their college careers. An impressive 70% of the area’s college-bound high school seniors also attend IRSC following their high school graduation.
Working adults with established careers attend classes for continuing education and training purposes, or to pursue new career paths.
The Adult Education Program gives adult learners the chance to earn a high school diploma or GED or learn how to speak English.
The Knight Center for Emerging Technologies has become known as one of the best technology learning centers in the nation.
The college has an open admissions policy that accepts all students with a high school diploma or its equivalent, allowing anyone who is interested in pursuing higher education to do so at a reasonable cost.
Prospective students must fill out the IRSC application, which can be completed online, and submit official transcripts from all high schools or post-secondary institutions attended along with official ACT or SAT scores. All Indian River students are assigned a counselor upon acceptance and required to attend a new student orientation.
Requirements may vary for international students and students wishing to take classes for the simple benefit of learning rather than college credit. The college’s Student Success Services staff prides itself on assisting all applicants with his or her admissions, advising, career choice, and financial aid needs and can help answer questions that prospective students may have.
The school has been named one of the most affordable regional colleges in the South by U.S. World and News Report and ranked as one of the most affordable colleges in the nation by the Department of Education. Despite its affordability compared to the cost of most four-year universities, financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Students looking to apply for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility. The FAFSA must be completed each year that students are in school, and it is advisable to fill it out as soon as possible when it becomes available each January.
IRSC students may be able to receive aid in the form of grants, student loans, and scholarships. Grants may include the Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. State-funded scholarships offered through the college include Florida Bright Futures, the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, the Rosewood Family Scholarship Fund, and the Seminole/Miccosukee Indian Scholarship. Students may also be able to receive private scholarships.
Special types of aid are available for active military personnel and veterans.
The college serves over 32,000 students each year. In addition to academic classes and career training, students can also benefit from their time at IRSC outside the classroom. There are numerous school-recognized clubs and organizations for students, including a student government that acts as the voice of the students.
Facilities on campus are also enjoyable for students as well as the local community. The school hosts a fine art gallery where students may showcase their own works of art. The McAlpin Performing Arts Center is a great place to catch the annual arts series. The Hallstrom Planetarium is also located on the Indian River campus.
The Indian River Pioneers participate in intercollegiate sports, including:
The swim teams at Indian River have won more than 30 consecutive NJCAA swimming championships. Several Indian River alumni and former student athletes have gone on to play professional sports.
Fort Pierce, Florida is located on the Atlantic Ocean. The city offers many points of interest including the Heathcote Botanical Gardens and the St. Lucie County Historical Museum.
The college is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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