Fifteen minutes to the beach and 15 minutes from the airport, Nova Southeastern sits in a prime location in Southeast Florida. The lush landscape clearly thrives in the Florida sun and humidity. I visited during spring break, so I didn’t get to see many students, but the ones I did see were headed to the gym (with a rock climbing wall) and outdoor recreational pool. 

Originally a graduate school

Since Nova Southeastern (NSU) started as a graduate school, it’s not surprising to learn that they offer more than 30 dual-degree programs. Students in these programs are on the fast track to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s or higher-level degree. NSU is one of only four schools in the nation to offer both allopathic and osteopathic medical degrees–the M.D. and the D.O.

Take freshman classes at the medical school

In fact, four undergraduate bachelor of science programs are housed in the osteopathic medical school: Human Nutrition, Health and Wellness Coaching, Health Informatics, and Public Health. All four of these are available as both majors and minors.

Human nutrition can lead to a registered dietician M.S. in five years. Students in this major often minor in a sports field like exercise science. Health and wellness coaching, which deals with making healthy life choices, can lead to an M.S. in couple or family therapy. Health informatics involves the technical side of health care, such as using the electronic health record and using data to improve outcomes. Public health, a fast-growth field, focuses on prevention and mitigation of disease. It’s an excellent pathway for pre-med. 

Four-year dedicated academic and career coach

Every NSU Shark gets a CAPS adviser. CAPS stands for Center for Academic and Professional Success. The CAPS Career and Academic adviser, or Edge adviser, will work with you through all four years of your academic journey. They will help you figure out your major, choose the right courses, find internships, and get ready for job interviews.

R1

The Carnegie Foundation just announced that NSU has reached the standards to be a Research 1 institution, meaning, according to the Feb. 20, 2025 issue of The Current, the student newspaper, “Being an R1 institution means that the university spends at least $50 million on research and development and awards at least 70 research doctorates in a year.” In fact, NSU has over 150 research projects in the works, including one to convert the epi-pen into a pill and one on coral reef restoration.

Experiential learning

Every Shark needs six “ExEL,” or experiential education and learning, credits. Study abroad, coursework, research, internships, community service, and leadership activities qualify. According to my tour guide, Isabelle, it’s easy to get these credits and still work toward your major requirements.

Housing

Currently, about 2350 students live on campus in suite-style or apartment-style housing. There are no communal bathrooms. Housing layouts can be found at nova.edu/housing.

Majors and minors of note

Business Administration: business of health; property management and real estate; sport and recreation management
Computing and Engineering: cybersecurity management; biomedical engineering; information technology
Education, Human Services, and Criminal Justice: early child development; computer science education; nonprofit management, philanthropy, and grantsmanship
Health Care Sciences: medical sonography; respiratory therapy; exercise and sport science
Law: law, science, and technology; health law; 3 + 3 law school program available
Liberal Arts: biological and physical sciences; graphic design; digital media production; pre-med track; international history and politics; medical humanities; theatre;
Nursing: direct-entry nursing; pre-nursing
Osteopathic medicine: health and wellness coaching; health informatics
Psychology and Neuroscience
Science: marine biology; mathematics

Premier Program Pathways

(quotes from the Create Your Own Wake brochure)
Dual admission programs “reserve your seat in one of the graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree.”
Razor’s Edge Scholars live together in a residential program that includes hands-on learning and an “accelerated path toward an advanced degree.”
The Fischler Academy allows you to “get your bachelor’s and master’s in education in four years,” with guaranteed placement in a South Florida school district.
The Business Innovation Academy is a pathway to a bachelor’s and M.B.A. in four years.
Honors College The average class size at NSU is around 20 and the largest class you might have would be 50. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1. But in the honors college, classes are more discussion based, and your classes average 10 to 12.

Time to play

NSU has 17 Division II NCAA athletic teams with avid Shark fans supporting them. The school offers more than 150 clubs and organizations as well as intramural and recreational team sports.

Applying to Nova Southeastern

NSU has been test-optional, but beginning fall 2026, they will require the SAT or ACT. 

For the premier programs, there’s a supplemental application, and some require an interview.

In my opinion. . .

Nova Southeastern has a lot to offer, yet with a 73% admit rate, it’s accessible to students with mostly A’s and B’s. Institutional scholarships for the special programs range from $21,000 to full tuition, and the published cost of attendance is around $60k. If you like it hot (and of course, I do), if a Sharkapalooza sounds like fun, and if you’d like to take advantage of accelerated pathways, NSU should be on your radar.