Colleges in Miami: A Complete List

Miami, Florida, is one of the most vibrant, diverse, and dynamic cities in the United States. Students from all over the world are attracted to the city and prestigious Miami colleges.

There’s more to college life than studying, and Miami offers many diversions. Residents and visitors alike appreciate the Miami area for its entertainment, culture, and arts scene. You can also take a break from classes to soak up the sun at one of the city’s beautiful beaches.

Additionally, the Miami area has seen recent drops in unemployment, which might encourage new graduates to stick around. The city’s economy offers opportunities in many areas, including healthcare, business, education, and transportation.

We’ve spotlighted three of Miami’s most popular universities based on factors like number of applicants and overall academic reputation.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and reflects numbers for 2022.

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Miami and the surrounding area. You can use the table below to compare data on student populations, average net costs, acceptance rates, and number of applicants.

All data comes from NCES. We did not include schools that enroll fewer than 500 undergraduates.

Graduates of Miami colleges and universities may think twice before leaving the city to look for work. While still in school, Miami students will have a front-row seat to vibrant and diverse employment opportunities across many industries.

In particular, the healthcare field in Miami is experiencing significant growth, as are education, business, and transportation. According to the BLS, the fastest-growing industry in Miami is education and health services.

Given that the unemployment rate in the Miami area has dropped steadily since mid-2021 — in line with national averages — graduates can enter growing fields related to transportation, sales, finance, business administration, and other sectors.

The cost of living in Miami-Dade County is 20% higher than the national average, according to 2023 numbers reported by Redfin. While this might seem daunting to students attending college in Miami, there are ways to lower living costs and still pursue a degree.

Housing costs, in particular, are 50% higher in Miami than the national average. Students should consider finding a roommate or living on campus to cut costs. You can also use public transportation, take advantage of student discounts when shopping, and utilize campus health services to live more economically.

The University of Miami tops many lists of the best Miami colleges. This school is one of the most prestigious in the city and state due to its strong emphasis on research, high student retention rate, and several other factors.

Due to Miami’s size, most people wouldn’t characterize this city as a classic “college town,” especially when compared to smaller college towns that are home to just one or two schools.

However, Miami has a lot to offer students in terms of culture, diversity, recreational opportunities, job opportunities, and hospitable weather. If you’re looking for a bigger city college experience, Miami can offer that.

The University of Miami is the most difficult school to get into in Miami. With an acceptance rate of just 19% — paired with a retention rate of 92% for full-time students — this institution is an attractive option for applicants seeking a prestigious education.

With an enrollment surpassing 55,000, Florida International University is the largest college in Miami. Full-time students comprise 57% of the school’s undergraduates, and 67% of learners identify as Hispanic or Latino/a.

Miami is home to six four-year nonprofit universities. However, when counting community colleges, graduate schools, for-profit schools, and trade schools, there are more than 50 higher education institutions in Miami.

One of the largest public universities in the state, Florida International University, is also located in Miami.