Chipola College in the Florida Panhandle

Chipola College, a liberal arts college in Marianna, Florida serves the population of the entire state of Florida and beyond but primarily sees enrollment from students who live in surrounding communities. The school has a long history of bettering the community through education and service and continues to expand into the future. Within the past 10 years, Chipola made the move from two year to four year college. 

Chipola still primarily offers two year associate's degrees to students who are on their way to receiving a four year bachelor's degree. Chipola enjoys a varied student population but most students who attend Chipola come from the surrounding counties of Jackson, Washington, Holmes, Calhoun and Liberty County. Chipola is located in Marianna, in the Florida Panhandle, bordering on Alabama and Georgia. 

Enjoying a long heritage and a diversified student body, the college population is split nearly 50/50 between males and females. Roughly two thirds of the student body are Caucasian with a mixture of other backgrounds making up the rest of the population. The school strives to keep itself diversified, welcoming people from out of state and all around Florida to apply. The majority of students who attend Chipola College are from 17 to 24 years of age.

The majority of students are a commuter so the school does it's best to accommodate with scheduling. Most of the student body holds a part time or full time job in addition to attending school so classes are held between 8 am and 2pm, Monday through Friday with evening courses available.

The school was founded in 1947 as a private educational institution but with the passing of the Florida Minimum Foundation law in 1948, local counties were allowed to begin contributing to the school's upkeep. Once this law was enacted, the school became a public institution. The three counties that surround Chipola College continue to support the school financially.

The original building stood on the grounds of the Marianna Army Air Base from 1947 until 1953. The following school year, the school began operating in it's current location. Chipola College was known as Chipola Junior College until 2003. In 2003, the school changed it's academic standard and began offering bachelors degrees in the fields of Science and Math.

Chipola College recognizes that students may not always be interested in pursuing a degree in these fields and provides for the highest rate of transference of credits to other outstanding institutions. The majority of the populations of Chipola College's students are involved in student life-athletics, charitable organizations and more.