AdventHealth University is one of only 20 colleges and universities in Florida to earn the prestigious Carnegie Classification designation of Opportunity Colleges and Universities: Higher Access, Higher Earnings.
The Higher Access rating describes the racial and ethnic makeup of students, with 38.3 percent Hispanic, 34.4 percent White, 17.7 percent Black, 4.9 percent Asian and 4.2 percent biracial. In 2022, AdventHealth University was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.
“Each student at AdventHealth University is seen, valued, and supported,” said C. Josef Ghosn, Ed.D., FACHE, president of AdventHealth University. “Our faculty and staff are very intentional about fostering a culture of belonging; making a college education accessible; and supporting the unique talents, experiences, and abilities that students bring to our campuses.”
In the Higher Earnings segment, graduates of AdventHealth University reported earning $68,561 eight years after enrolling. According to Carnegie, that compares to $33,463 reported by peers in the area who did not receive a similar education.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious classification, which affirms the academic excellence we champion at AdventHealth University,” said Karen Benn Marshall, Ed.D., provost of AdventHealth University. “This recognition reflects the strength of our degree programs and the transformative impact of our affiliation with AdventHealth’s preeminent care.”
Only three colleges in central Florida received this top ranking in Student Access and Earnings. The classifications give students, parents, and policymakers accessible and relevant data for decision-making.
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has been a benchmark for institutional diversity in U.S. higher education since 1973. Supported by the American Council on Education, the Carnegie Classification is updated every three years. The “Opportunity Colleges and Universities” designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification that examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve.
In 2025, 479 institutions are identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities — about 16 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
“Hundreds of institutions nationwide are providing students an excellent opportunity to use higher education as a springboard to a better life,” said Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education in a press release announcing the Carnegie Classifications. “The Student Access and Earnings Classification highlights the depth and breadth of schools where student success is front and center.”
AdventHealth University also received the new Carnegie designation of “Special Focus: Nursing,” indicating its nursing degrees make up the largest program at the school.
AdventHealth University | September 2025
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