Beacon College

Beacon College is an accredited, liberal arts institution of higher education, which uniquely serves the educational needs of students with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other Learning Differences.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.

Pursuing the life abundant is the pervading theme that infuses everything we do at Beacon College. It’s something we take very seriously indeed.The standard educational approach for students who learn differently is accommodation, chipping at the edges of standard collegiate practices in an effort to help these students get by.

That isn’t enough for Beacon and we will not accept it for our students. We empower our students not to “make do,” but to make, to do, to dream and to be the most that they can be. Both within the classroom and far beyond it, Beacon faculty and staff nurture a vivacious learning laboratory that calls upon our students to seek and cherish all of life’s richness.For students who want to learn how to thrive with a learning disability, there is no better place than Beacon College. In this community, you will find many other students just like you, and you will discover that academic and career success is well within your reach.

Beacon College is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis so you can apply as soon as you are ready to. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of receiving scholarship funds and of avoiding being placed on a waiting list for admittance. If you are a current college student interested in “trying out” Beacon, we encourage you to consider applying for Breakthrough Semester.

So does education. There is nearly as much to be learned outside the classroom as in it. Time spent away at college helps young adults discover who they are. It gives them vital experience in both self-reliance and navigating the everyday choices that are essential to a full and productive life.This experience is pivotal for students who learn differently. Coming from highly supportive homes, they often face challenges advocating for themselves, making small, but important decisions and ensuring their own wellness.

Education is the key to opening life’s richest possibilities.But that key, with its boundless potential, can seem out of reach for students who learn differently — those with diagnosed learning disabilities, dyslexia, ADHD and related conditions. Beacon College serves that neglected student population, helping aspiring collegians access and leverage education to create the lives they want.In 1994, Beacon became the first undergraduate U.S. institution accredited specifically to award bachelor’s degrees to students who learn differently. We’ve been an innovator ever since.

Founded in 1989, Beacon College was the first college in the country accredited to award bachelor degrees exclusively to students with learning disabilities, ADHD and other learning differences. The group of parents who conceived of Beacon College did so knowing that given the right environment, support, and tools, all students can succeed.The College is committed to student success, offering academic and personal support services that help each student achieve his or her goals. Set in the hometown environment of Leesburg, FL amidst beautiful lakes and close to area attractions, students are able to experience community living within easy reach of the resources they need to flourish academically, professionally, and socially.

Beacon’s four-year graduation rate of 83.3% far surpasses the national average for students with learning disabilities, proving the effectiveness of the teaching model founded at the College.Every Beacon student leaves the College with stronger critical thinking skills and, due to a strong four year Career Development program, professional skills designed to help each student understand his or her specific skill set and goals. Career Development courses, along with professional internships, help insure each student embarks on the appropriate career path after leaving Beacon. The fact that 83.3% of graduating students either obtain a job or continue in their education after leaving Beacon demonstrates the success of this program.

Beacon’s unique mission is gaining national attention, and the College has been featured recently in publications such as USA Today. In 2013, Value Penguin identified Beacon as the best value amongst private colleges in Florida.

In 26 years of educating students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and other associated learning differences, Beacon College has remained true to the mission established in 1989 by its founders to improve higher education opportunities for students with learning disabilities and ADHD. By providing a supportive, resource-rich community with the necessary resources, Beacon enables students to excel academically, become more aware of their learning differences , and learn ways to thrive with them.