New NWFSC–UWF partnership will allow local students to pursue four engineering degrees without leaving Northwest Florida
For many local students, earning an engineering degree has traditionally meant moving away from home—and taking on the added costs that come with it. A newly approved partnership between Northwest Florida State College and the University of West Florida is creating another option.
Students will soon be able to begin their engineering education at NWFSC’s Niceville campus and then transition to UWF to complete a bachelor’s degree at the schools’ joint campus in Fort Walton Beach.
That means Destin-area students can pursue a high-quality engineering degree while remaining close to their families, jobs and community.
The Florida State Board of Education recently approved four new Specialized Associate in Arts Transfer degree programs at NWFSC:
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
“A student can start here, stay here and build a successful future here,” said NWFSC President Mel Ponder. “Students will be able to start their engineering degree at Northwest Florida State College, continue to the University of West Florida and complete a high-quality bachelor’s degree close to home.”
A Smoother Path to an Engineering Degree
The new programs are designed to take some of the uncertainty out of transferring from a two-year college to a university engineering program.
Students will complete foundational mathematics, science, engineering and general education courses at NWFSC. They can then move into upper-level engineering courses through UWF in Fort Walton Beach.
The specialized transfer degree—known as a SAAT degree—allows NWFSC to include required courses beyond those typically offered in a traditional 60-credit Associate in Arts program. This helps ensure students have completed the prerequisites they need before beginning their upper-level engineering studies at UWF.
Importantly for families, the additional required credits can qualify for financial aid. The combination of financial-aid eligibility, NWFSC’s affordability and the ability to live at home could make an engineering degree more attainable for many local students.
“This partnership reflects what higher education should do—create opportunities that meet students where they are and prepare them for where they want to go,” said UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. “Students can begin their academic journey at NWFSC and then complete a UWF engineering degree without leaving the community they call home.”
Preparing Students for Local Careers
The new pathways are also closely connected to Northwest Florida’s workforce needs.
Engineers play important roles throughout the region’s military installations and its growing aerospace, defense and technology industries. They are also needed in construction, infrastructure, manufacturing and other industries that support everyday life in our communities.
By creating a clear path from a student’s first college course through completion of a bachelor’s degree, NWFSC and UWF hope to prepare more local students for these high-demand careers—and encourage them to build their futures here. “Students should not have to leave Northwest Florida to pursue an engineering education or prepare for careers in industries that are vital to our region,” said Rhea Goff, chair of the NWFSC District Board of Trustees. “These new pathways give local students an affordable and accessible starting point while helping employers develop the highly skilled workforce they need.”
For local high school students who are beginning to consider college options—as well as working adults thinking about a new career—these programs could open the door to an engineering education that once seemed out of reach.
Information about enrollment, advising, course schedules and anticipated program start dates will be announced as implementation plans are completed.
Students and parents can learn more by visiting NWFSC.edu/engineering.
