Florida Institute of Technology was founded in 1958 by Dr. Jerome P. Keuper as Brevard Engineering College to "offer continuing education opportunities to scientists, engineers and technicians who were working for NASA at Cape Canaveral at what is now known as the Kennedy Space Center."

In 1961, the school moved to its present location in Melbourne, Florida, and in 1966, the university's name was officially changed to Florida Institute of Technology.

Florida Institute of Technology's students say its tough to describe what would be considered a "typical" student "given the diversity of people from the many states and countries we represent." The diversity of its student population might be one of the reasons FIT secured a spot on Princeton Review's list of the 146 Best Southeastern Colleges.

Out-of-state tuition for this small, diverse university is $27,540. The number of undergraduates for 2007 was 2, 594 and the total number of students, including graduate students was 5, 118.

Although FIT isn't listed as one of the toughest schools to get into, you have to figure it can't be easy. Princeton Review lists the most common majors as Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Aviation/Airway Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering. You had better bring your A-game if you want to make it to graduation at this school.