Argosy University
5250 17th St., Sarasota, FL 34235
(941) 379-0404; www.argosyu.edu

New president Steve Sorkin, who relocated from Argosy's Washington, D.C., campus to Sarasota in January, touts Argosy's degrees in business, psychology and education, and says the campus caters to "nontraditional" students whose average age is 42.

Last December, the school underwent a major revision of its business programs, which include bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in business administration.

The psychology school recently earned accreditation for its mental-health counseling program, the fifth such program in Florida to receive accreditation. Another new program, a doctorate of education and community-college executive leadership, draws 70 percent of its students from around the country, says director of admissions Linda Voltz.

Founded: 1969 Degrees offered: B.A., B.S., M.A., M.A.Ed., M.B.A., Ed.S., Ed.D., Psy.D., D.B.A. Target population: working adults interested in pursuing degrees in the fields of psychology, business and education Tuition: $360-$530 per credit hour No. of campuses: 1 in Sarasota (16 nationwide) No. of students: 2,000 Out-of-state students: N/A Average class size: 9.2 2000 graduates: 308 2005 graduates: 453

Eckerd College
2050 Oak St., Sarasota, FL 34237
(941) 957-3397; www.eckerd.edu/pel

Eckerd College's Program for Experienced Learners (PEL), in Sarasota since 1988 at First Presbyterian Church, hopes to relocate to a new facility in the RBC Centura building at Orange Avenue and Ringling Boulevard this summer. With 200 current students, "We've outgrown the facility where we are," says Helen T. Meyer, director of the Sarasota center.

Its most popular programs are in business management, which are offered primarily at night and on weekends. The school also offers majors in global business, healthcare management-which allows nurses and respiratory therapists to move into supervisory roles-and a new major in environmental studies.

The Sarasota campus is one of five PEL locations around the region. More than 500 graduates of the Sarasota campus live and work in the area.

Founded: Sarasota campus, 1988; St. Petersburg, 1958 Degrees offered: B.A. Target population: Adults age 23 and older Tuition: $238.57 per credit hour No. of campuses: 1 in Sarasota; 5 total No. of students in Sarasota: 200 Out-of-state students: 0 Student/faculty ratio: 13:1 2000 graduates: 35 in Sarasota 2005 graduates: 40 in Sarasota Anticipated number of 2006 graduates: 50

Florida State University College of Medicine
201 Cocoanut Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236
(941) 316-8120; www.med.fsu.edu

The FSU medical school was launched in 2000 as the first new M.D. program to be established in the United States since 1982; its Sarasota Regional Medical School Campus-one of four regional campuses that FSU's med students must attend in order to receive their third- and fourth-year training-opened last year with nine students. The campus serves as a teaching center for these students, who spend 90 percent of their time with 60 area physicians in family practice, gynecology, internal medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, surgery and community medicine.

Dr. Bruce Berg, clinical professor and dean of the Sarasota campus, says eventually the Sarasota campus will train 20 third-year and 20 fourth-year students, with about 150 physician mentors. Berg says the region benefits from the medical campus. "There's a potential that students would stay here or come back after their training," he says.

Founded: Sarasota campus, 2005; FSU College of Medicine, 2000 Degrees offered: M.D. (Note: Sarasota campus accepting third- and fourth-year medical students only. To achieve full degree, students must attend main campus in Tallahassee for years one and two.) Target population: Medical students Tuition: $16,743.73 per semester No. of campuses: 1 in Sarasota (also in Tallahassee, Pensacola and Orlando) No. of students in Sarasota: 9 Out-of-state students: Only accepts in-state students Student/faculty ratio: Regional campus is generally one-on-one clinical training Graduates: First Sarasota class will graduate in 2007

Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training
5555 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243
(941) 351-9010; www.asolo.org

FSU/Asolo Conservatory director Greg Leaming is fully aware of the conservatory program's impact on the business community. "We think we're one of the cornerstones of cultural life of Sarasota, and by raising the cultural life, we are raising the lifestyle in the region and making it far more attractive for people to settle down here," he says.

The highly selective graduate program enrolls 12 students each year (out of 2,000 to 3,000 who audition) to study for three years, receiving a master's of fine arts and professional training through its relationship with the Asolo Theatre Company. Third-year students become company members.

Founded: 1974 Degrees offered: M.F.A. Target population: Graduate students from around the country seeking a professional training program that combines intense classroom work with a range of performance opportunities Tuition: Students attend on tuition waivers from the state of Florida and scholarshipsNo. of campuses: 1 No. of students: 30-36 each year Out-of-state students: N/A Student/faculty ratio: 8:1 2000 graduates: 9 2005 graduates: 8 Anticipated 2006 graduates: N/A