Why Beacon? - Beacon College About Why Beacon Why Beacon? Beacon by the Numbers The Life Abundant Leadership President Hagerty Leadership Presidential Search Campus & Community Our Campus Our Community Bookstore Mason Art Gallery Directory Accreditation Strategic Plan Policies Student Handbook Title VI Title IX Reasonable Modification Policy Disabilities Accommodations Policy Family Guide Clery Report About Founded in 1989, Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, stands as a shining beacon of hope and opportunity for students with learning disabilities. Admissions & Aid Learn More & Apply Apply New Students Transfer Students International Students Homeschooled Students Parents and Families Educators Admitted Students Affordability Tuition & Fees Scholarships Financial Aid Financial Aid FAQs Other Financial Resources CARES Act Get to Know Us Admissions Events Plan a Visit Meet the Admissions Staff Download Brochures Request Information New Student Orientation Admissions & Aid Join us on campus for one of our upcoming Open House events! We invite you to experience the personalized support, vibrant campus life, and academic excellence that make Beacon College the ideal choice for students with learning differences. Register Now > College Readiness Programs & Options Summer for Success College Edge Navigator PREP Intro to College Academics Dual Enrollment Beacon Foundations Resources & Tools Choosing the Right Program Meet the Experts Free Downloadable Tools Webinar Recordings Partnerships Partner With Us Certificate in Coaching Adolescents Neurodiversity in Higher Ed Certificate College Readiness Get college-ready this summer with our Summer Bundle! Combine virtual college readiness counseling with one of our on campus summer immersion programs and receive $2,000 off. You’ll get 1:1 college readiness prep and an unforgettable summer, all in one. Academics Academic Programs Anthrozoology Business Management Hospitality and Tourism Computer Information Systems Design and Digital Media Early Childhood and Elementary Education Humanities Human Services Psychology Studio Arts Minors Success & Support Services Academic Advising Academic Support Career Preparation Career Treks Internships Study Abroad Resources Course Catalog Academic Calendars Registrar’s Office Academics Intellectual challenge is at the heart of a Beacon education. We take this very seriously, but we are also very practical about it. Our 10 bachelor’s degree programs are intended to prepare our students to find worthy work in today’s global marketplace.  Additionally, we encourage students to explore their diverse interests through one or more of our 17 minors. Student Life Campus Life Life at Beacon First Year Experience Housing Dining Services Transportation Health and Wellness Safety Activities Activities and Clubs Fitness and Recreation Athletics Athletics Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Cross Country and Track Golf Student Life “Pursuing the life abundant” is the pervading theme that infuses everything we do at Beacon College. It’s something we take very seriously indeed. At Beacon, you’ll be able to be the most that you can be. Both within the classroom and far beyond it, we nurture a vivacious learning laboratory that calls upon you to seek and cherish all of life’s richness. News & Events News & Media News and Updates Lighting the Path Newsletter A World of Difference Office of Communications Events Salon Series Family Weekend Alumni Weekend Commencement News & Events We are committed to keeping you up to date. Check out current news, media, and upcoming events from Beacon College. Quick Links Parents Students Educators Alumni Visit Campus Request Information Apply Give Portals Canvas Email MyBeacon Parent Portal Online Bill Pay Faculty/Staff E-Flame Faculty/Staff MyBeacon Directory Library Why Beacon? About Why Beacon? Uncommonly Visionary As the first college in the nation accredited to award bachelor’s degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities and ADHD, Beacon College remains committed to student success, offering academic and personal support services that help students achieve their goals. We are truly a community — welcoming, accepting, and supporting each member of it. It is unmistakable when one enters the Beacon campus that something special is underway. The Beacon difference is in the energy of the place — emanating from devotion to a common purpose, an unwavering commitment to robust student outcomes, and the clear-eyed convictions of those in the community that our work is important and trail-blazing. There is an urgency in all that we do and for which we plan. Our Mission Beacon College is an accredited institution of higher education with an entrepreneurial ethos and holistic focus, uniquely serving the educational needs of neurodivergent students. Our Vision Beacon College is a competitive institution of higher education in the arts, sciences, business, and technology specifically devoted to the undergraduate preparation and success of students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other learning differences. In the arena of our mission and focus, Beacon is recognized as one of the foremost American institutions in this undergraduate specialty. 515 Undergraduate Students 14:1 Students to Faculty and Staff Ratio 90% Freshman to Sophomore Retention Rate 95% Of Students Receive Financial Aid Get to Know Beacon We’re a close-knit community of diverse learners located in Leesburg, Florida! Here, students with learning differences navigate the academic rigor and expectations of college, gain hands-on career experiences, and build lifelong relationships with peers from around the world. The best way to get to know Beacon is by seeing who we are and what our students have accomplished. Beacon by the Numbers Recognition and Accolades #21 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional College Beacon College remains in the top 25 for the fourth consecutive year ranking at No. 21 in the regional colleges’ rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Colleges. See Rankings Forbes Accessibility 100 Recognized as a biggest innovator and impact-maker in serving individuals with learning disabilities, Beacon College has earned a prestigious spot on Forbes’s inaugural Accessibility 100 list. See the List #6 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional College for Social Mobility 2025 “Some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students.” #1 Peterson’s Great Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities Peterson’s pointed to Beacon’s flexibility in offering both “associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs designed for students who learn differently.” Resources Visit Us! Schedule an individualized campus tour today! Plan a Visit Academic Majors Learn more about nine bachelor degree programs! Majors and Degrees Summer for Success Learn about our three week summer program for high school sophomores and juniors! Summer for Success Upcoming Events Check out our virtual events schedule to learn more about college readiness options! Virtual Events Salon Speaker Series Attend one of our free Salon Speaker Series presentations, our educational outreach for lifelong learners! Salon Series Apply Today We’re here to make the application process easy for you! Apply Our History 1989 Beacon College is founded. Marsha Glines presides as Beacon’s first president. 1990 D’Addario and Stoer Buildings are purchased. Beacon’s first commencement takes place. 1991 First Parents’ Weekend is celebrated. AA in Human Services is offered. 1992 Deborah Brodbeck becomes Beacon’s second president. 1993 General studies degree is added to the curriculum. 1995 Academic mentoring program is established. 1996 Beacon submits its first application for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC). 1997 Education building is purchased. 1999 Col. Jerald L. Thompson Mentoring Center opens. 2003 SACSCOC accreditation is attained. Construction of the Village Apartments is completed. 2004 Beacon celebrates its 15th anniversary. 2005 Three new majors are added. The Robert & Jane Weiner Writing Center opens. 2006 Palmetto Building is purchased. Minors in English/Literature and History are approved. 2009 Beacon celebrates its 20th anniversary. 2010 The Chopping Block makes its debut. 2012 The Student Center relocates. Majors in Business Management and Psychology are established. Beacon acquires vans through state grant. 2013 Beacon Hall opens its doors. Counseling Center is purchased. The Herlong Building is acquired. The new fitness center is housed in the former train depot. Center for Student Success relocates. Studio Arts building is leased, and Art major is approved. 2014 Beacon welcomes Dr. George J. Hagerty. The Founder’s Room is established and dedicated to the Resnick family. Beacon celebrates 25 years. 2015 The Navigator Cafe makes its debut. Beacon College launches the Compass Program in conjunction with the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 2016 Beacon College delegation testifies at a congressional briefing on the college and learning disabilities. Summer for Success program launches. College Magazine ranks Beacon College No. 2 among the top 10 most accommodating schools for pupils with learning disabilities. 2017 The Board of Trustees is named among five winners of the AGB John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership presented by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. 2017 Beacon signs a historic Memorandum of Understanding with the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services in the United Arab Emirates to expand the services provided by Beacon to those with learning disabilities who reside in Sharjah, the UAE, and regionally. 2017 BestValueSchools.com ranks Beacon No. 1 on its list of 20 Best Value Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities. 2017 The inaugural class of Beacon in Tuscany program begins in Prato, Italy. 2018 Resnick Alpern Plung (RAP) Hall opens. Beacon launches project discovery program in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Durand Garden Park opens. 2019 BestValueSchools.com ranks Beacon No. 1 on its list of 20 Best Value Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities. Peterson’s ranks Beacon No. 1 on its list of 20 Great Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities. Beacon becomes a charter member in the Global University Disability & Inclusion Network. 2020 COVID-19 impacts the college through closure and remote learning. U.S. News & World Report for the first time recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 31. 2021 U.S. News & World Report again recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 35. Beacon receives a $210K Fogg Trust Grant for career center expansion and critical scholarship support. Against the pandemic odds, Beacon College’s Class of 2021 represents the largest graduating class in the school’s history — a notable milestone during the COVID-19 crisis. 2022 Beacon College’s neurodiversity-focused television show “A World of Difference” earns a Bronze Award for Best Strategy, Health in February in the inaugural Anthem Awards. Beacon alum, Sam Finelli, hits the high notes while chasing his dreams as a contestant on American Idol. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 10. 2023 Beacon College sports tips off a new era with membership in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The college introduces its new mascot, the Beacon Blazer. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 3. 2024 The inaugural class of Beacon in Tokyo program begins. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 9. 2025 The College breaks ground on the $11 million Intramural and Fitness Center. U.S. News & World Report recognizes Beacon in the top tier of Southern colleges and universities in its “Best Colleges” regional rankings at No. 21. Forbes recognizes Beacon in the inaugural Forbes 100 Accessibility list. Apply Today Request Info Plan a Visit Web Design by PHOS Creative Title VI Title IX