Because of its location, Eckerd is considered a "beach school"[2] and has its own student volunteer maritime search and rescue team.

[6] In 1971, drugstore magnate Jack Eckerd donated $12.5 million to the college as part of his broader interest in Florida politics.

[11] Despite this, one of the first challenges Armacost's replacement, Donald R. Eastman III, faced was having the institution warned that it might lose its accreditation because of these financial problems.

Although later in his tenure he came under criticism for statements about campus sexual assault,[16][17] Eastman is still credited with doubling applications for admission to Eckerd, providing more student housing, and improving the college's stature after its financial scandal.

Often called General Education, these courses are designed to provide critical thought, the ability to make complex decisions and a commitment to lifelong learning.

New students take their first college course during a three-week orientation called "Autumn Term" that is guided by faculty and peer mentors.

Eckerd College originated the 4-1-4 academic calendar,[25] with the "1" representing the Winter Term during the month of January, in which each student concentrates on a single class, often studying abroad.

Before graduation, students in nearly all majors are required to either pass a senior-year comprehensive examination or to complete a senior thesis project.

1 in the United States in the number of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hollings Scholars it has produced since that undergraduate scholarship program's inception in 2005.

[35] Eckerd College has a suburban 188-acre (0.76 km2) campus on Frenchman's Creek and Boca Ciega Bay, about 3 miles (4.8 km) from Gulf of Mexico beaches.

The result is one of the world's largest intact collections of midcentury modern educational buildings designed by some of the 20th century's most important school architects.

Recent campus additions include the Armacost Library, Iota residential housing complex, sports facilities; renovations to the student center, residence halls, and Miller Auditorium were also completed.

Other campus buildings include those designed and used for classrooms, laboratories, offices, conferences, theatrical productions, musical instruction, art exhibits, athletic events, and student services.

[41] It was later revealed that the donors involved were John and Rosemary Galbraith, a former Eckerd trustee and board chairman, as well as a retired mutual fund executive and philanthropist.

[43] During then Eckerd president Eastman's speech, he said, "This library, and the national reputation this college has achieved in the blink of an eye, are nothing less than dreams that have come true.

The music, theatre, and visual arts programs are active in staging concerts, dramatic productions, and exhibitions, respectively, throughout the academic year.

On-campus speakers have included, among many others, the late nobel laureate in economics Milton Friedman, the late Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban, Jimmy Carter, Michael Collins, Anderson Cooper, Jared Diamond, Gerald Ford, Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, Stephen King, Henry Kissinger, Richard Leakey, Dennis Lehane (a 1988 Eckerd grad), Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Paul Rusesabagina, Peter Singer, James Van Allen, Elie Wiesel, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Gloria Steinem, Billy Collins, Bill McKibben, Piper Kerman, Opal Tometi, and Ibram X. Kendi.

Eckerd College also has hosted the EC Coalition for Community Justice, a group seeking to raise campus housekeepers' wages, and is one of only a few schools in Florida to join the nationally recognized Peace Corps Prep undergraduate certificate program—helping adventurous students prepare to serve humanity after graduation.

Among these, Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon, Zeta, Kappa, and Iota complexes offer traditional dorm-style housing.

Sigma and West Lodge offer an on-campus hotel style of living, with each room having its own individual bathroom.

[50] In 2019, then-President Donald R. Eastman III signed a pledge to prohibit college funds from being used to buy most nonessential single-use plastics.

In 2006, for the first time in the 24-year history of the Eckerd College women's volleyball program, the Tritons qualified for the NCAA South Region tournament.

In addition to Division II teams, Eckerd students participate in club sports such as men's and women's rugby, lacrosse, and ultimate.

Also in 2020, the Eckerd Athletics Department was a finalist for the NCAA Division II Award of Excellence for its work with the 10th annual Christmas for Kids event held in December 2019.

Eckerd Athletics was recognized for conducting events that promote student-athletes giving back and serving as leaders within their communities or on their campus.