Education
Building Cape Coral’s workforce
A well-educated and skilled workforce is essential to Cape Coral’s continued economic growth. Businesses have access to public schools, a municipal charter school system, technical colleges, state colleges and universities serving Cape Coral and the broader Southwest Florida region.
Together, these institutions support career preparation, industry certifications, associate and bachelor’s degrees, graduate education and continuing workforce development.
Education at a Glance
- 16,633 Florida Gulf Coast University enrollment, fall 2024
- 15,765 Florida SouthWestern State College enrollment, fall 2025
- 101,379 Lee County public and charter school students, October 2025
- 3,426 Oasis Charter School students, 2024–2025 school year
Career and Technical Education in Cape Coral
Cape Coral Technical College provides career-focused, hands-on training within the city. Its programs prepare students for employment and industry credentials in areas including:
- Building construction
- Electronic technology
- HVAC and refrigeration
- Automotive and marine services
- Network systems administration
- Digital design
- Medical and dental assisting
- Practical nursing and nursing assistance
Higher Education
Florida Gulf Coast University is a public university serving Southwest Florida. FGCU reported an enrollment of 16,633 students in fall 2024 and offers almost 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.
Florida SouthWestern State College reported 15,765 students in fall 2025. The public college offers associate and bachelor’s degrees, certificates and workforce-oriented programs through campuses serving Lee, Charlotte, Collier and Hendry/Glades counties.
Supporting Cape Coral’s Target Industries
Cape Coral’s regional education network supports talent development across the City’s targeted industries.
| Target Industries | Related Education and Training |
| Business and Financial Services | Business, accounting, finance, management, analytics and entrepreneurship programs at FGCU, FSW and regional universities |
| Consumer Products and Service | Business development, entrepreneurship, marketing, digital media and service-industry training |
| Healthcare and Life Sciences | Nursing, allied health, physician assistant, medical assisting, dental assisting, emergency medical services and healthcare administration |
| Sustainable Real Estate | Engineering, construction management, civil engineering technology, environmental studies, water resources, building construction, electrical and HVAC training |
| Community Services | Education, social work, behavioral health, public administration, public safety and nonprofit leadership programs |
| Culinary Tourism | Resort and hospitality management, restaurant management, culinary training, event management and entrepreneurship |
| IT and Media | Software engineering, cybersecurity, computer programming, network administration, digital design and multimedia production |
| Industrial Services | Engineering technology, manufacturing, welding, electronics, automotive, marine services, logistics, construction and skilled-trades training |
Explore Cape Coral’s target industries.
K–12 Education
School District of Lee County
The School District of Lee County serves more than 100,000 public and charter school students across the county. The district reports 118 schools and offers traditional, technical, career-focused and advanced academic pathways.
Oasis Charter Schools
Cape Coral operates its own municipal K–12 charter school system, which includes two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Oasis Charter Schools served 3,426 students during the 2024–2025 school year.
Additional Regional Institutions
Other institutions with physical campuses serving Southwest Florida include:
- Ave Maria University — Ave Maria, Collier County
- Keiser University — Fort Myers
- Nova Southeastern University — Fort Myers
- Rasmussen University — Fort Myers
- Southern Technical College — Fort Myers
Connecting Businesses with Education Partners
Businesses interested in recruitment, training partnerships, internships or educational connections are encouraged to contact the institutions directly. Cape Coral’s Economic and Business Development Office can also help connect employers with relevant education and workforce organizations.
Explore Cape Coral’s workforce or contact EBDO to discuss available partner resources.