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Eckerd College Radio Station Ranks Among Best

The Princeton Review named the St. Petersburg campus station the fourth best in the United States.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Higher Education

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Eckerd College's student radio station, WECX, ranked fourth in the United States according to a new report from The Princeton Review. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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WECX, the long-standing student radio station at Eckerd College, has secured the fourth spot on The Princeton Review's national ranking of campus stations. The recognition comes after a recent push to expand the station's roster and operational scope.

Why it matters

The ranking reflects widespread student participation in The Princeton Review's surveys, highlighting WECX as a prominent cultural hub on campus. By maintaining a large volunteer base, the station continues to provide a platform for student voices in St. Petersburg.

WECX currently hosts 84 active DJs, making it the largest club on the Eckerd College campus. The station broadcasts exclusively online at WECX.org following the loss of its FM signal during a past hurricane.

The players

WECX

This is the official student radio station serving the Eckerd College community.

The Princeton Review

This organization is a major education services company known for publishing annual college rankings and test preparation resources.

Eckerd College

This is a private liberal arts college located in St. Petersburg.

University of South Florida

This is a large public research university with a campus in the Tampa Bay area.

The details

Following a complete station renovation in 2025, the organization increased its DJ count and added new Saturday broadcast programming to its schedule. These operational updates helped drive student engagement, securing the station's high standing in the national poll.

Timeline

  1. WECX has operated on campus since the 1980s.

  2. The station underwent a complete physical renovation in 2025.

  3. The Princeton Review released the official radio station rankings in October 2026.

Culture Shift

College media is increasingly moving toward digital-first models as traditional FM broadcasting faces infrastructure vulnerabilities. This shift highlights a broader trend where campus stations prioritize online accessibility over local analog reach to maintain student engagement.

Students and community members can access the station's programming directly through their mobile devices or home computers via the web portal. The station also plans to launch a dedicated mobile application in the future to further streamline listening.

The takeaway

The success of WECX demonstrates how physical facility upgrades and expanded scheduling can boost student participation in campus media. Aspiring broadcasters at the college can leverage these resources to gain hands-on production experience.

Further reading

Find more updates regarding academic life in our Higher Education section.

More information

Access the station's full broadcast schedule and listen to live segments on the Eckerd College student radio station website.

Source note: This article includes information reported by WMNF 88.5 FM.

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Do you believe student-run radio stations still provide significant value to their local campus communities?