THE FUTURE IS HERE
Palm Beach State College prepares the workforce of Palm Beach County for the jobs of the future with more than 130 programs of study, including certificate, associate and bachelor’s degree programs in high demand fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and medical imaging.
Founded in 1933 as Florida’s first public community college, PBSC is now the largest institution of higher education in Palm Beach County. With 37,000 students, five campuses and a 160,000 strong alumni network, PBSC is a major contributor to the county’s strong economic growth in sectors including health care, information technology and engineering. A recent economic impact study from workforce analytics firm Lightcast found that PBSC, one of the top producers of associate degree graduates in the U.S., has a $1.4 billion impact on the county’s economy, which is the equivalent of supporting more than 18,100 local jobs.
Under the leadership of PBSC President Ava L. Parker J.D. since2015, the College has opened a fifth campus, boosted student success rates as well as enrollment growth, emerged as a top institution for preparing students for STEM careers, expanded its allied health and technology facilities, and become home to TMRW Sport’s TGL, an indoor interactive tech-infused golf league, co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy and former NBC golf executive Mike McCarley.
“Palm Beach State College’s partnership with TMRW Sports is an incredible opportunity for our faculty to elevate the educational experience by incorporating new technologies and best practices into our curriculum,” said Parker. “It also opens doors to internship opportunities and hands-on experiences that provide our students with access to new technologies that will set them apart in their future careers.”
With more than 500 industry partners, the College ensures its curriculum is closely aligned to workforce needs. PBSC’s new Associate in Science degrees in artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity aim to bring much-needed new talent into the growing AI and cybersecurity fields. Currently there are 23,424 cybersecurity job openings in Florida, according to CyberSeek, and 469,930 nationwide.
The addition of these programs builds on PBSC’s strength in the cybersecurity field. The College has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security since 2023. PBSC won second place for a second year in a row at the Florida Department of Education’s Second Annual Cybersecurity Competition. The PBSC team are members of the College’s Ethical Hackers Club, which offers hands-on ethical hacking activities and opportunities for students to strengthen their real-world skills.
PBSC is leveraging the technology of the future today. A robotics and engineering lab just opened on PBSC’s Boca Raton campus. In fall 2025,a $50 million Dental & Medical Services Technology Building will open for classes on PBSC’s Loxahatchee Groves campus offering a dental clinic, surgical technology suite and labs equipped with virtual reality learning technology and3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection systems.
Thanks to $4.1million in federal funding allocated by the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, PBSC will soon become the first in the state of Florida to offer training for the repair and maintenance of green vehicles. The automotive industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation with hybrid, electric vehicles (EVs), and alternative fuels becoming more prevalent. With the federal government’s target of 50% electric vehicles by 2030, there is an urgent need for skilled professionals who knowhow to repair them.
This new certificate program in hybrid and electric vehicles will provide students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in hybrid and electric vehicle technology, alternative fuel systems, and sustainable transportation solutions. PBSC’s commitment to innovation and focus on industry-aligned programs, positions the college as a critical gateway to opportunity and economic mobility for Palm Beach County and beyond.
