- December 4, 2025
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Bayside Community Church is a megachurch with eight locations across three counties — Sarasota, Manatee and Hardee.
One of those campuses is in Lakewood Ranch, off State Road 64 near Lorraine Road. Not only is that campus a place of worship, it’s a place for higher education, too.
Bayside College started out as a ministry training program in 2012. The college partnered with Southeastern University to offer accredited degree programs in 2017.
The first fall semester in 2017 welcomed 42 students. This fall, 225 students are enrolled.
“Our ultimate goal is to have 1,000 students, made up of local students and those living on campus,” said President Aimee McCullough. “We want Bayside College to continue to grow.”
In an effort to reach that goal, Bayside will break ground on dormitories this fall.
The leadership program at Bayside College requires students to be on campus multiple days a week, so McCullough said on-campus housing will make the student experience more convenient and cost-effective, all while being immersed in a Christ-centered environment.
Currently, the college has more than 50 students living off campus in six leased homes located, on average, 20 minutes away from the Lakewood Ranch campus.
McCullough said resident life helps students learn critical development skills, such as conflict resolution, personal responsibility, teamwork, time management, effective communication, leadership development and the importance of building community.
The student housing will accommodate 264 people across four buildings. Each two-story building will house 64 students and two staff members.
The church has a long driveway that provides access to the campus from Lorraine Road. Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch is located on the south side of the driveway. The student housing will be built on 72 acres on the north side of the driveway.
The project will be built in phases. In Phase I, eight temporary modular buildings will be erected on the southern portion of the lot to house 70 students.
The first two buildings will be constructed on the northern portion of the lot. When those buildings are completed, the modular buildings will be removed to make way for the remaining two buildings.
Unlike most developments that add cars to the surrounding roads, Manatee County staff noted in its report that a “positive aspect” of this housing project is that it will “reduce vehicle trips on area roadways” because students will have access to the college and kitchen facilities on-site.
The project is expected to cost $3 million and accommodate students by spring 2026.
“Bayside College is focused on developing Christian leaders for ministry and the marketplace,” McCullough said. “Our students receive college credit for gaining practical experience in their field of study each semester. This experience, plus opportunities for internships, places them at an incredible advantage at graduation.”
According to the college, within two months of graduating, over 90% of Bayside College’s Class of 2025 received job offers.
