INTO Eckerd College: Admissions, Tuition & Scholarships Guide for International Students

Eckerd College is a small private liberal arts college on a waterfront campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and INTO University Partnerships works with the college to recruit and support international applicants. A point worth making clearly at the start: unlike the INTO pathway at Drew University, I could not find evidence of a separate INTO pathway or foundation year at Eckerd, and INTO's own Eckerd pages describe undergraduate degrees rather than pathway programs. This guide therefore focuses on direct entry to Eckerd College with INTO as an application partner. It covers exactly what INTO Eckerd College international students need to know: rankings, admissions requirements, tuition costs, scholarships, campus life, and US Optional Practical Training.

Quick facts snapshot

• Eckerd College founded: 1958, a private, non-profit liberal arts college
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, on a 188-acre waterfront campus on lower Tampa Bay
• Undergraduate enrollment: 1,893 (fall 2024)
• Acceptance rate: about 75.8% (3,844 admitted from 5,071 applicants, per reported data)
• Class size: INTO reports that 99% of classes have fewer than 30 students
• Programs: more than 40 undergraduate degrees, with dual-degree engineering options with Columbia University and Washington University in St. Louis
• U.S. News 2026 National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking: #135
• INTO's role: application and recruitment partner; no separate pathway program was found

Rankings and reputation

Eckerd ranks #135 among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2026 U.S. News Best Colleges list, and it does not feature in the QS or Times Higher Education world tables, which is normal for a small teaching-focused college. Its best-known strength is marine science: the college is reported as ranked first in Florida and fifth in the country for undergraduate marine science, and students can specialise in marine biology, chemistry, geology, or geophysics, using a fleet that includes offshore powerboats and a catamaran with a working deck. Applicants should treat these as reported figures and weigh the college as a small liberal arts institution with a distinctive science niche.

Academics and signature programs

Eckerd offers more than 40 undergraduate majors across the sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, and the arts, with marine science, biology, environmental studies, and business among the most popular. Faculty mentors help students plan their four-year path, and students can take part in research alongside professors, study abroad, and internships. The college also offers dual-degree engineering options in which students earn a degree from Eckerd and an engineering degree from Columbia University or Washington University in St. Louis, though those routes have their own admission requirements.

Admissions and international eligibility

With an acceptance rate of about 75.8%, Eckerd is a realistic option for well-prepared international applicants. Applicants submit the Common Application or Eckerd's own application, a personal statement, a high school transcript with certified translations, a recommendation letter, and proof of English proficiency, together with a $50 application fee.

English language requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall band score of 6.5 or higher
• TOEFL iBT: at least 79 out of 120
• Duolingo English Test: at least 110
• Alternatives listed include an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 550, an ACT combined English and Reading score of 43, ELS Level 112, or a strong AP or IB English score

Application checklist and deadlines

Eckerd lists an Early Action deadline of November 15 with decisions by December 15, rolling admission from December 1 with decisions within four weeks of a completed application, and a Winter Term (January start) deadline of December 1. Enrollment deposits are due by May 1. After admission, international students submit a statement of financial responsibility, bank evidence of funds, a passport copy, and a $400 enrollment deposit to receive the I-20 needed for an F-1 visa.

Tuition, living costs, and scholarships

For 2025-26, Eckerd lists tuition of $52,690, fees of $726, and housing and meals of $15,176, a total of $68,612 before roughly $5,914 in personal, transport, book, and health-insurance costs. INTO's Eckerd page gives a slightly different estimate of $70,950 to $73,600 in total per year. Together these suggest a full cost of roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per year before scholarships.

Estimated living costs in St. Petersburg

• Housing and meals are mostly covered by the college's on-campus rates, which simplifies first-year budgeting
• St. Petersburg is a mid-sized coastal city with lower living costs than many major US metropolitan areas
• F-1 applicants must show proof of funds covering at least a year of costs
• Public transport is more limited than in a large city, so campus living is practical
• F-1 rules restrict off-campus work, so plan for little income while studying

Scholarships for international students

Eckerd automatically considers international applicants for merit scholarships of up to $27,000 per year, and transfer students of up to $18,000 per year, with no separate scholarship application. INTO's Eckerd page lists first-year awards in the range of $10,000 to $24,000 and transfer awards of $11,000 to $18,000, and notes that scholarships are not guaranteed. Need-based aid is not available to international students. Because the figures differ between sources, ask Eckerd for your written award before accepting.

Campus life and student support

Eckerd's 188-acre campus sits on the water, and student life includes sailing and kayaking, a student-run Environmental Emergency Response Team, and a strong culture of outdoor activity. Small classes and faculty mentoring help students who are adjusting to US higher education, and the college's international office supports visas and orientation.

Career outcomes and post-study work rights

Marine science graduates have internship access to oceanography and wildlife organisations along Florida's Gulf Coast, and Eckerd's small size means students often build close relationships with faculty who can support graduate school or job applications.

US Optional Practical Training

After completing a US degree, F-1 graduates can apply for Optional Practical Training, which allows up to 12 months of work related to their field, extendable by 24 months for graduates of STEM-designated programs such as marine science or biology where the program is on the STEM list. OPT rules change, so confirm your major's STEM designation with the college's international office.

Health insurance and pre-arrival preparation

International students are generally required to carry health insurance meeting the college's standards. Budget for the SEVIS I-901 fee, the visa fee, and flights, and prepare for a visa interview whose wait times vary by country. Florida is hot and humid for much of the year and exposed to hurricane season, so ask the college about its emergency procedures.

A realistic four-year budget

At a total cost of roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per year, four years cost about $280,000 to $300,000 before scholarships. A $24,000 to $27,000 annual scholarship would reduce that to roughly $172,000 to $204,000, but awards are not guaranteed and costs may rise, so ask for your written scholarship package and its renewal conditions.

Questions to ask before you accept an offer

• Does INTO provide any pathway or English program at Eckerd, or is my route direct entry only?
• What is my scholarship in dollars, and is it renewable each year?
• Is my intended major STEM-designated for OPT purposes?
• What is the total cost of attendance for my first year, including insurance?
• Are dual-degree engineering routes open to international students, and what are the conditions?
• What support does the college give international students during hurricane season?

Who Eckerd suits best

Eckerd suits students who want a small college with close faculty contact, especially those interested in marine science, environmental studies, or the sciences, and who like a waterfront campus. It may suit less well students who want a large research university, a big-city setting, or a lower-cost option.

Step-by-step application roadmap

1. Choose your major and check the English requirement.
2. Apply through the Common Application or Eckerd's application by the Early Action, rolling, or Winter Term deadline.
3. Submit your transcript, essay, recommendation, and English proof with the $50 fee.
4. Accept your offer, review your scholarship, and pay the $400 deposit.
5. Submit financial documents to receive your I-20 and apply for an F-1 visa.
6. Arrange housing and insurance, then attend orientation.

Preparing your documents early

Order certified transcripts and translations early, prepare your personal statement well before the deadline, and arrange bank documents showing sufficient funds. Because the I-20 and visa interview take time, keep copies of everything and check current visa rules on official US government websites.

Understanding what an INTO partnership does and does not include

When a US college works with a recruitment and support partner such as INTO, the partner typically helps applicants with counselling, application handling, and pre-arrival guidance, but the admission decision, the tuition, and the degree all belong to the college itself. That is why it is worth asking INTO and Eckerd to state in writing which services INTO provides, whether they cost anything extra, and whether any English or academic pathway exists. Applicants can always apply to Eckerd directly, so compare the support on offer with the option of applying without an intermediary.

Frequently asked questions