Hi all I don’t fit the usual college demographic. I will be moving to FL and it will either be Jacksonville or Pensacola. I wanted to know which is the better school for mechanical engineering? I would think UNF just because of the population base? Pensacola isn’t too far from Louisiana which would have the higher paid petroleum engineering jobs though. I really don’t have a clue- I’m from the NW myself. I don’t really need college to make money, but I want a good fallback option. Thank you.
err… Pensacola is nowhere near Louisiana - unless you consider that a 3 hour drive is “near”. Sure, it’s closer to LA than Jacksonville, but … it’s all relative.
I’d say UNF is stronger than UWF academically.
Mechanical engineers can work anywhere.
So, all in all, I’d say choose the city that you like best.
(Any reason for these two cities in particular?)
Ok sorry my bad that was ignorant of me to say. Oh these cities appeal to me because they have beaches, in my opinion good weather, pretty cheap for good quality of life, far as I know their traffic isn’t bad enough to make me wanna run people over, and both got higher education if I decided to take that option. I was just curious if either university had more connections in the area, but you say they are pretty equal. I have yet to be there, but I will fly to one of them and visit the other in a couple weeks just to be sure. I personally lean towards Pensacola- but maybe Jacksonville is better to be in for the long run it sounds like.
Thank you!
The Miami area (generally speaking the area where you have FIU, FAU, UMiami) and St Petersburgh/Tampa (USF, UTampa) would both have the beach and a decent economy. (Fort Lauderdale is cheaper than Miami/Miami Beach). Of course, for engineers, the area around UCF is perfect (strong network with NASA and space affiliated everything), but there are no beaches.
I may be wrong but I’m under the impression the economy’s not as good in Pensacola. But check, because I don’t actually have the numbers. 
Choose the city you prefer, where you’ll be able to get a job and settle, in all cases there’s a university there so you’ll be able to re-enroll - sometimes there are low-cost, guaranteed programs with the local CC, too, depending on what you’re looking for.
UWF has an (ABET accredited) Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering program. It’s started up a ME program, but I don’t believe it’s been accredited yet…
http://uwf.edu/cse/departments/engineering/undergradmajors/mechanical-engineering/
UNF has an (ABET accredited) Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and several versions of computer sciences programs. It also has a masters program in Mechanical, Electrical and Civil engineering.
https://www.unf.edu/ccec/engineering/Mechanical_Engineering.aspx
All things being equal, UNF has the stronger engineering program and is a bit better, overall in academics.
Both engineering programs are much smaller than UF’s, UCF, USF, FAU, FSU, etc. You may want to look into Orlando (UCF) or Tampa (USF). Traffic is horrible in Orlando, but Tampa has a great beach. 
Both Pensacola and Jacksonville are great towns. Pensacola clearly has the better beach, but Jacksonville has lots of other advantages.
oh gosh I didn’t even think to check if it was ABET accredited in Pensacola… thank you!
Great comments above. On a personal note I prefer the Jacksonville area to the west side of Florida, but that’s just a me.
I, too, would glance at the community colleges near each location just in case you decide to get your gen-eds done there instead.
Also, would definitely look at UCF.
My son’s BF is in ME at FAU. So far so good, but he started as a freshman in Calc 3 (math whiz/AP in high school, etc.). Personally I wanted him to go to UF. 
Boca is beautiful but expensive, keep that in mind.