St. Johns County Schools to Host College & Career Night for Students, Families

St. Johns County School District will host its 2026 College & Career Night on Wednesday, September 2, bringing together more than 100 colleges, universities, technical schools, military branches, and employers under one roof to connect with local students and families exploring post-graduation options.

The event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Conference Center, located at 500 S Legacy Trail in St. Augustine. The gathering offers high school students across the county a concentrated opportunity to speak directly with admissions representatives, military recruiters, and career employers in a single evening.

What's happening

The school district has assembled a participant roster spanning Florida institutions, out-of-state universities, technical training programs, and career pathways. Among the colleges and universities scheduled to attend are all major Florida public universities — University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida, University of North Florida, Florida Atlantic University, and Florida International University — alongside the state college system's St. Johns River State College and First Coast Technical College.

Out-of-state institutions on the list range from regional neighbors like Auburn University, University of Alabama, and College of Charleston to schools as far as Purdue University, Penn State University, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Private Florida colleges including Jacksonville University, Flagler College, Stetson University, and Rollins College are participating, along with specialized institutions such as Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Ringling College of Art and Design, and Full Sail University.

Technical and vocational training is represented by programs including Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville, Bartram Dental Assisting School, Jones Technical Institute, and WyoTech. Military service academies and branches attending include the United States Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office will represent local first responder career pathways.

Career support organizations and employers on the roster include test-prep services, consulting firms, and equipment dealer Ring Power CAT. The district's own St. Johns Virtual School will also have a presence. Vendors interested in participating can contact Moira McCabe, the district's Coordinator for School Counselors and Attendance, at 904-547-7576 or via email.

Why this matters for St. Johns County students

St. Johns County consistently ranks among Florida's fastest-growing counties, and its school system has expanded rapidly to keep pace with residential development in areas like Nocatee, the World Golf Village corridor along State Road 16, and communities near County Road 210. The district now enrolls tens of thousands of students, and its high schools routinely post among the state's top graduation rates and test scores — metrics that make the college-going rate and post-secondary planning a high priority for families who moved to the area in part for the schools.

Events like College & Career Night serve as a central point of contact for students who might otherwise need to visit campuses individually or rely solely on online research and school counselor guidance. For families navigating the college admissions process — particularly those new to the area or without prior college-going experience — the ability to compare options, ask questions about financial aid, and learn about technical and military alternatives in a single session can clarify decision-making during the junior and senior years of high school.

The timing in early September positions the event at the start of the school year, when high school juniors are beginning to build college lists and seniors are finalizing applications ahead of early-decision and early-action deadlines that typically fall in November. For students considering Florida's Bright Futures scholarship program, which provides tuition assistance based on GPA, test scores, and volunteer hours, understanding the admission standards and costs at in-state versus out-of-state schools is a practical factor in application strategy.

The broader college-planning landscape in Northeast Florida

The mix of institutions at the event reflects the full spectrum of post-secondary paths available to Northeast Florida students. Florida's public university system offers relatively affordable tuition for residents, and the state's prepaid college savings program, Florida Prepaid, allows families to lock in tuition costs years in advance — a common financial planning tool in the region. The presence of University of North Florida, located in Jacksonville, and St. Johns River State College, with campuses in St. Augustine and Palatka, highlights local options that allow students to remain close to home while pursuing degrees.

Technical colleges like First Coast Technical College provide certificate and associate-degree programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades — pathways that lead directly to employment and often carry lower debt burdens than four-year degrees. Programs like the Electrical Training Alliance of Jacksonville offer apprenticeship models that combine classroom instruction with paid on-the-job training, a route increasingly emphasized in Florida's workforce development strategy.

Military service academies and enlisted recruitment represent another well-trodden path in a region with a strong military presence. Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville and Naval Air Station Jacksonville anchor the local economy, and the proximity to Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia just north of the Florida line means many St. Johns County families have direct military connections. The service academies offer tuition-free education in exchange for military service commitments, while enlisted options provide education benefits through the GI Bill.

The out-of-state roster, which includes large public universities in the Southeast and beyond, reflects the mobility of Florida students and the recruitment strategies of institutions seeking geographic diversity and full-tuition-paying out-of-state enrollees. For high-achieving students, the comparison between Florida's in-state tuition and out-of-state costs — often two to three times higher before scholarships — becomes a central question in the application process, one that face-to-face conversations with admissions representatives can help clarify.

What happens next

The event takes place the evening of September 2 at the conference center adjacent to the World Golf Village resort and convention complex, a facility accustomed to hosting large gatherings and situated near the intersection of Interstate 95 and State Road 16, making it accessible to families across St. Johns County and neighboring areas. Students and parents can walk the floor during the 90-minute window, stopping at booths to collect information, ask about specific programs, and in some cases schedule follow-up campus visits or interviews.

Colleges and universities typically use these events to distribute brochures, explain application timelines, discuss scholarship opportunities, and add prospective students to mailing lists for additional outreach. For students, the value lies in the ability to gauge fit — the size of a campus, the culture of a program, the accessibility of faculty — through direct conversation, supplementing the polished marketing materials that arrive in the mail and fill email inboxes throughout the junior and senior years.

Families interested in attending do not need to pre-register; the event is open to all students and parents. The school district has not indicated whether attendance is limited to St. Johns County students, though the event is organized and promoted by the district for its own enrollment. The district's website provides a photo gallery from the 2025 event, offering a preview of the scale and format.

As St. Johns County continues to add thousands of residents each year and school enrollment climbs, the district's ability to support students through the transition from high school to college, career training, or military service remains a key measure of educational success and a draw for families considering where to settle in Northeast Florida. College & Career Night is one tool in that effort, concentrating resources and access into a single September evening and connecting the county's growing student body to the wider range of opportunities waiting beyond graduation.