Our Beginning

Doral College was founded with the goal of making higher education opportunities more accessible by leveraging innovation and flexibility to create a pathway for students hindered by traditional barriers. Fernando Zulueta, Founder and CEO of Academica, an innovative global organization serving more than 200 charter schools in 12 states, had seen firsthand the impact advancement opportunities could have on students’ futures. But opportunities like these were still out of reach for many lacking the adequate transportation, educational resources, or support to make them a reality. In the traditional landscape of higher education as well, a need for more accessible, innovative options continued to grow. In response, Zulueta and a group of like-minded business and community leaders partnered to establish the college in 2011.

In its early years, the college focused on expanding opportunities to local charter schools with a high need for advanced programs. While dual enrollment in itself was not a new or novel concept, the College’s approach sought to completely integrate the high school experience of qualified students by allowing them to earn an Associate in Arts degree in conjunction with their high school diplomas within the nurturing environment of the students’ current school community. Its initiatives focused on providing students with the critical thinking skills necessary to adapt to the career challenges of the 21st century, a goal made possible by the personalized attention and support provided through the college’s close collaboration with the students’ partner school.

Expanding Access and Improving Technologies

By 2018, the College had grown to serve students from several partner charter school systems including Doral Academy, Mater Academy, Somerset Academy, SLAM Academy, Pinecrest Academy, and others. Students now resided in four different Florida counties.

Since then, participation has only grown throughout the state. Currently, the College serves approximately 7,200 dual enrollment students at nearly 100 public and private schools across 12 counties in Florida.

As enrollment has grown, and student and faculty needs evolved, so has the College’s emphasis on use of technology. Doral College has worked diligently to foster a digital learning ecosystem that connects faculty, staff, and students to enhance learning, collaboration, and community. Over the years, Doral College has continuously adopted and promoted modern learning tools and platforms that ensure digital connectivity and facilitates access to learning. For example, in the summer of 2021, the college migrated to the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS). Canvas is cutting-edge system used by most major colleges and universities in the state. The college also implemented Colēgia, a Single Sign On (SSO) student portal that provides a hub for student access to email, student records, and courses all via one login.

A History of Dual Enrollment Associate in Arts Graduates

The College’s first class included 22 dual enrollment students who graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree in May 2014. Since then, classes have only grown with the most recent including 688 students from across the state. To date, nearly all graduates have been accepted to and gone on to attend four-year institutions, many of which are considered some of the most prestigious in the country. DC alumni can be found on the campuses of Harvard University, the University of Chicago, New York University, Cornell University, the University of Florida, the University of Miami, Florida International University, Stanford University, and MIT, to name a few. 

New Populations, the BSED, and Teacher Development Programs

In recent years, Doral College has significantly expanded its undergraduate offerings, serving a diverse population of traditional and non-traditional students through flexible, high-quality online programs. Students include recent high school graduates, transfer students, working adults, and individuals returning to college to advance their education and careers. The College's personalized approach, affordable tuition, and fully online learning environment make higher education accessible to students with a wide range of educational and professional goals.

Among its academic offerings is the Florida state-approved Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with Reading and ESOL Endorsements, designed to address Florida's growing demand for highly qualified elementary educators. Recognizing that many students reside outside Florida, the College also offers a non-state-approved version of the program that provides the same rigorous academic foundation for those pursuing careers in other states or educational settings. In addition, Doral College offers a Florida state-approved Educator Preparation Institute (EPI), an alternative teacher certification program that enables individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree to transition into the teaching profession and earn Florida teacher certification.

Beyond its degree and certification programs, Doral College also supports the continued professional growth of practicing educators by offering coursework leading to Florida teacher certification, as well as Florida Reading, ESOL, and Gifted endorsements. These programs enable current educators to expand their credentials, strengthen their instructional expertise, and meet evolving state certification requirements while continuing to serve students in their classrooms.

Additional Degrees

Doral College has continued to expand its academic offerings to meet the evolving needs of students and employers. Among its undergraduate programs is the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), a four-year degree designed to prepare graduates for success in today's dynamic business environment. The program combines a strong foundation in business principles with an emphasis on innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership, equipping students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to excel across a wide range of industries.

The College also offers a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, its first graduate degree program. Developed to address the growing demand for qualified educational leaders, the program prepares aspiring principals and assistant principals with the knowledge and leadership competencies needed to serve Florida's schools. Graduates are eligible for Florida Educational Leadership Level I certification, positioning them to lead schools and improve student outcomes.

Most recently, Doral College expanded its portfolio with the addition of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Designed with working professionals in mind—particularly those already serving in law enforcement—the program builds upon students' real-world experience while preparing them for career advancement. The curriculum emphasizes the practical application of criminal law, decision-making and human behavior, leadership and supervision, and the investigative and analytical skills essential to today's criminal justice professionals.

Accreditation & Licensing

Doral College received licensure from the Florida Commission on Independent Education (CIE) in 2011. In addition, the College is also licensed to operate in Nevada through the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education (CPE). Doral College is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), having received initial accreditation in 2018 and reaccreditation in 2021 and 2025. DEAC is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency. The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Doral College is approved by the state of Florida to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). NC-SARA centralizes the authorization process for each institution in a single state called the institution’s “home state.” Colleges or universities in a SARA state therefore only need their home state authorization to offer distance education to any other SARA member state.

The college has all courses approved by the Florida Statewide Common Course Number System (SCNS), which facilitates transferability among member schools, including all public colleges and universities in the state, as well as private schools like DC, which have elected to participate. Currently, all Doral College courses are approved through this system.

Administration & Location

The first president of Doral College, who served from its inception until July of 2015, was Anitere Flores. The second president, Douglas Rodriguez, served until 2021 and was followed by current president Judith C. Marty.

Doral College is located in the city of Doral within Miami-Dade County, at Doral Hall, which is located at 2525 NW 112 Avenue, Doral, FL 33172. Doral Hall is located on the 11-acre campus of Doral Academy Charter High School, and houses the College’s classrooms, labs, and administrative offices. In addition, an administrative site was added in the state of Nevada in 2024. This facility is located on the campus of Mater Academy East Las Vegas, at 3900 E. Bonanza Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89110.