Best Colleges in Florida + Full List of Schools

Check out our guide to the best colleges in Florida to learn about education options and career paths in the Sunshine State.
Reese Lopez
By
Updated on August 19, 2024
Edited by
Learn more about our editorial process

Known for its mild weather and frequent sunshine, Florida is a top state for higher education. Major schools like the University of Florida and Florida State University serve tens of thousands of students each year, offering comprehensive training in all major academic and professional fields.

Plus, earning a degree in Florida can prepare you to enter the state’s thriving job market.

Our guide to the best colleges in Florida offers an overview of higher education in the Sunshine State, including top schools, popular careers, and cost of living. We also provide a complete list of colleges in Florida.

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The 10 Best Colleges in Florida

We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
#1

University of Florida

  • Gainesville, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $213
Out-of-State | $955

Situated in Gainesville, UF features undergraduate degrees in dozens of areas, including accounting, early childhood education, and fire and emergency services. Optional certificates such as medical anthropology and urban pest management make customizing your education easy. Experienced professionals can further their education with a master's or doctorate. 

Undergraduate admission requirements include a high school or GED diploma, a C average in all previously attempted high school or college classes, and standardized test scores. Transfer applicants may need to meet a GPA cutoff. UF Merit Scholarships award up to $10,000 per year to in-state degree-seekers.

57%

Online Enrollment

$ 4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

97%

Retention Rate

$25,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
30%
Students Enrolled
55,781
Institution Type
Public
#2

Florida State University

  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $216
Out-of-State | $721

FSU offers undergraduate programs in 10 interest areas, such as liberal arts, natural and physical sciences, and sustainability and environment. Online degree-seekers can select from six majors, including computer science and interdisciplinary social science. The university's honors program accepts first-year, returning, and transfer students. 

FSU accepts the Common App and FSU Application. First-year applicants submit standardized test scores and can apply early or regular decision. The school provides merit-based scholarships that award up to full tuition for in- and out-of-state degree-seekers.

58%

Online Enrollment

$ 5,616

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

94%

Retention Rate

$18,746

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
25%
Students Enrolled
44,161
Institution Type
Public
#3

University of Florida-Online

  • Gainesville, FL
  • 4 year
  • Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $129
Out-of-State | $553

UF Online brings 27 majors and 17 minors to degree-seekers living worldwide. You can major in areas such as advertising, nursing, or sociology. Other advantages include a fully asynchronous curriculum, part-time learning, and advisors who work solely with online learners. 

Out-of-state degree-seekers save significantly on tuition by learning online rather than on campus. UF online accepts the GED diploma, and high school graduates must meet the university's 2.5 GPA cutoff. UF Online students may apply for the same institutional merit- and need-based aid as on-campus learners.

N/A

Online Enrollment

$ 3,358

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

91%

Retention Rate

$15,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
66%
Students Enrolled
5,168
Institution Type
Public
#4

University of Miami

  • Coral Gables, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Year:
In-State | $60,720
Out-of-State | $60,720

Miami's 12 schools and colleges include arts and sciences, business, and nursing and health studies. Undergraduate arts and sciences students choose from over two dozen majors, such as history and neuroscience. The university's da Vinci Honors Program offers academic and personal enrichment through exclusive classes and seminars. 

First-year admission requirements include official high school transcripts, standardized test scores, one recommendation letter, and an essay. Some programs also require an academic portfolio. Institutional scholarships award full tuition and funding for study abroad. 

47%

Online Enrollment

$53,112

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

92%

Retention Rate

$53,112

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
19%
Students Enrolled
19,401
Institution Type
Private
#5

Florida International University

  • Miami, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Semester:
In-State | $3,084
Out-of-State | $9,283

Opened in 1972 in Miami, FIU features dozens of undergraduate degrees in areas that include environmental studies, hospitality management, and real estate. Online degree-seekers can choose from many bachelor's programs, such as international relations and Spanish. Working professionals can advance their careers by taking individual continuing education classes.

Undergraduate application materials include standardized test scores, FAFSA results, and the online application. FIU uses a score cutoff for applicants with a GED diploma. The Presidential Premier Scholarship awards full tuition to incoming first-year students with a 4.0 high school GPA and a minimum 30 ACT/1370 SAT score.

65%

Online Enrollment

$ 6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

91%

Retention Rate

$18,566

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
64%
Students Enrolled
55,687
Institution Type
Public
#6

University of Central Florida

  • Orlando, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $105
Out-of-State | $616

Situated in Orlando, UCF offers prospective students 13 colleges and over 240 degrees. The most popular bachelor's degrees include psychology, integrated business, and integrative general studies. UCF's Burnett Honors College prepares academically gifted students for graduate study through interdisciplinary seminars and an undergraduate thesis project. 

UCF accepts applications for the fall, spring, and summer terms. First-year admission requirements include a self-reported academic record, standardized test scores, and a high school or GED diploma. UCF recommends but does not require a personal essay.

9%

Online Enrollment

$ 6,368

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

93%

Retention Rate

$19,810

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
41%
Students Enrolled
67,959
Institution Type
Public
#7

University of South Florida

  • Tampa, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $105
Out-of-State | $557

Founded in 1956 as a research university, USF features over 100 undergraduate majors in subjects that include biomedical anthropology, health sciences, and music performance. Some majors offer concentrations. The university's Center for Career and Professional Development can help you improve your resume with a local internship or student employment opportunity.

USF accepts the Common App and requires standardized test scores. You must submit a separate application to apply to the Honors College. The university's Office of Financial Aid website features the latest institutional scholarships and application deadlines.

66%

Online Enrollment

$ 4,559

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

90%

Retention Rate

$15,473

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
49%
Students Enrolled
49,708
Institution Type
Public
#8

University of North Florida

  • Jacksonville, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $213
Out-of-State | $693

UNF educates over 16,000 degree-seekers online and on its Jacksonville campus. The university's College of Arts and Sciences offers bachelor's programs in biochemistry, English, and music performance. Minors and undergraduate certificates can help you align your education with your career goals. 

UNF uses a November 1 priority application deadline and requires standardized test scores. Applicants with a high school diploma should hold a minimum 2.5 GPA. You can apply for institutional merit-based scholarships through the UNF AcademicWorks online portal.

77%

Online Enrollment

$ 4,281

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

80%

Retention Rate

$17,999

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
71%
Students Enrolled
16,406
Institution Type
Public
#9

Nova Southeastern University

  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Year:
In-State | $37,500
Out-of-State | $37,500

NSU's undergraduate degrees include bioinformatics, exercise and sport science, and finance. Experienced educators can advance their careers by earning a fully online Ed.D. All students participate in experiential learning, and 82% of graduates report finding employment or starting another academic program within six months of earning a degree. 

NSU pairs all prospective students with an admissions counselor. Unlike other great colleges in Florida, NSU requires one recommendation letter from a high school or college teacher. Institutional scholarships require a separate application.

52%

Online Enrollment

$33,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

78%

Retention Rate

$33,510

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
76%
Students Enrolled
20,939
Institution Type
Private
#10

Florida Atlantic University

  • Boca Raton, FL
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited

Cost per Credit:
In-State | $203
Out-of-State | $722

Located in Boca Raton, FAU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in 12 colleges. The College of Arts and Letters features bachelor's programs in anthropology, language, and sociology. Undergraduates in the Wilkes Honors College enjoy small class sizes and exclusive research opportunities.

FAU accepts the GED and uses a 600 score cutoff. All first-year applicants must also submit ACT or SAT scores. Incoming in- and out-of-state degree-seekers with excellent test scores may qualify for a full-tuition scholarship.

65%

Online Enrollment

$ 5,642

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

81%

Retention Rate

$19,642

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-State
Acceptance Rate
81%
Students Enrolled
29,592
Institution Type
Public

badge-check How We Rank Schools

To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.

List of All Colleges in Florida

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Florida. You can use the table below to compare data on student population, average net cost, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). We did not consider schools that enroll fewer than 500 undergrads for this list.

All Colleges in Florida
SchoolTotal Student EnrollmentAvg. Annual Net PriceAcceptance RateNumber of Applicants
AdventHealth University1,610$30,340100%N/A
Ave Maria University1,310$23,51545%2,448
Barry University6,958$23,93059%12,141
Beacon College501$47,66460%593
Bethune-Cookman University2,727$14,705100%6,844
Eckerd College1,993$40,12279%4,664
Edward Waters University1,181$13,76385%9,805
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach10,301$41,55066%10,286
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide11,574$20,18362%2,047
Everglades University2,624$26,56186%804
Flagler College2,623$31,08578%5,509
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University9,215$15,49121%22,713
Florida Atlantic University29,592$9,83973%27,612
Florida Gulf Coast University15,969$10,54877%16,050
Florida Institute of Technology8,315$36,36463%15,205
Florida Institute of Technology-Online1,230$24,14644%189
Florida International University55,609$10,74259%25,034
Florida Memorial University1,137$18,36674%12,750
Florida Polytechnic University1,593$11,92356%2,600
Florida Southern College3,281$30,46259%10,874
Florida State University44,161$14,90325%74,038
Jacksonville University3,837$25,74557%8,879
Lynn University3,520$39,58274%8,333
New College of Florida689$8,36874%2,119
Nova Southeastern University20,948$32,75673%17,621
Palm Beach Atlantic University3,828$31,10388%7,657
Ringling College of Art and Design1,705$60,36267%2,685
Rollins College3,029$37,13441%9,796
Saint Leo University10,242$19,47872%7,788
Southeastern University10,044$27,93574%2,800
St. Thomas University6,370$27,02999%4,798
Stetson University3,928$22,91486%7,824
University of Central Florida68,346$13,11040%60,627
University of Florida55,211$11,52124%63,375
University of Florida-Online5,356$10,41264%1,440
University of Miami19,402$41,02819%48,286
University of North Florida16,406$10,62862%21,568
University of South Florida49,600$11,57841%65,187
University of Tampa10,566$35,97541%35,353
University of West Florida13,521$8,90857%9,831
Warner University849$21,47148%1,628
Webber International University1,133$29,71678%1,907
Source: NCES

What Is the Cost of Attending College in Florida?

If you plan to attend any of the best colleges in Florida, tuition is likely a major concern. As the table below shows, public schools offer significantly lower tuition rates than private schools.

You’ll receive even lower tuition as an in-state student, and you’ll find the lowest overall tuition rates at public four-year schools.

Cost of College in Florida 2022-2023
Institution TypeAvg. Tuition & Required Fees
Public Four-Year (In-State)$4,540
Public Four-Year (Out-of-State)$17,831
Private Four-Year$30,928
Source: NCES

What Is the Cost of Living in Florida?

By most metrics, the cost of living in Florida ranks slightly higher than the national average, though it is still far less expensive than states like New York or California. The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center ranks Florida as the 36th most expensive state to live in for 2024.

Florida ranks below the national average for utilities and healthcare expenses. However, housing expenses in the state are significantly higher than average. Grocery and transportation expenses also hover just around the national average.

The bottom line? Florida remains just above the national average cost of living, but you can expect to spend more if you’re attending school in a major city like Miami.

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Florida

Many of the best schools in Florida offer you a quality education with affordable tuition. While the state is slightly more expensive than average, it’s still quite possible to earn a degree affordably, especially if you attend school online or in a smaller town.

Florida also boasts a strong job market with plenty of career opportunities after you graduate.

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