South College Expands Orlando Campus to Meet Growing Healthcare Training Demand

The college is adding over 25,000 square feet to its Orlando location as enrollment increases for healthcare programs.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:37pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a hospital bed repeated in a grid pattern, capturing the expansion of healthcare education facilities in a modern pop art style.South College's expansion of its Orlando healthcare training campus reflects the growing demand for skilled medical professionals in the region.Today in Orlando

South College is expanding its Orlando campus by more than 25,000 square feet to accommodate growing enrollment and demand for healthcare training programs. The expansion includes additional classroom space, expanded labs, 10 new hospital beds for clinical practice, and new office space for faculty tied to the school's fast-growing physician assistant program.

Why it matters

The expansion reflects the broader demand for healthcare workers across Florida, where hospitals, clinics, and medical systems continue facing staffing pressure in several specialties. The larger footprint will allow South College to train more local students for in-demand healthcare careers in the region.

The details

The latest expansion brings the total instructional footprint of the South College Orlando campus to more than 65,000 square feet. The new space will support the school's second class of 100 students entering the Master of Health Science physician assistant program this fall. The expansion also adds offices for eight new faculty and staff members connected to the physician assistant program. Beyond the PA program, the Orlando campus offers certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's programs in nursing, respiratory therapy, surgical technology, imaging science, medical assisting and other healthcare-related fields.

  • South College Orlando first opened in 2021.
  • The physician assistant program launched in 2025.

The players

Melissa McMahon

The campus president of South College Orlando.

South College

A private college that offers healthcare-related degree programs and is expanding its Orlando campus to meet growing demand.

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What they’re saying

“We are fortunate to offer higher education that provides a professional path forward in some of the most in-demand fields in healthcare.”

— Melissa McMahon, Campus President

What’s next

The expanded Orlando campus is set to welcome its second class of 100 students in the physician assistant program this fall.

The takeaway

South College's investment in expanding its Orlando healthcare training programs reflects the growing demand for skilled healthcare workers in the region, as hospitals and medical facilities continue to face staffing shortages across various specialties.