Sunstate Academy began with the 1975 purchase of a barber school in Largo, Florida, and then expanded to Sarasota, Florida, in 1982.
In 1983, Sunstate opened another barber styling school in Ft. Myers, Florida; this school was relocated in 1991 to Port Charlotte, Florida.
In 1988, a cosmetology school was established in Ft. Myers. In 1992, Sunstate purchased a barber and cosmetology school in Clearwater, Florida.
Presently there are two Sunstate locations: Ft. Myers and Clearwater,
which were purchased by Compass Rose Foundation, Inc. on July 25, 2003. Compass
Rose Foundation, Inc. also owns and governs Southwest Florida College in
Ft. Myers and Tampa.
