Is it hard to get into the University of Florida online?

The University of Florida online is easier to get into than the University of Florida main campus. In fall 2022, the University of Florida received 64,473 applications and accepted 23%. Compare that to UF's online school, which in the fall of 2022 got 1,499 applications and admitted 65%. You can apply to UF's main campus as a first-year, transfer, graduate, or professional student. Transfer students to the main campus need at least 60 college credits, while UF Online accepts lower-division transfer students with only 12 credits.

Is online college free in Florida?

No, an online degree is not free in Florida. That said, you can find non-credit online courses at institutions such as South Florida State College. Florida students may also apply for fee waivers or exemptions, which provide discounts or an entirely free education. Students from foster care or those who meet financial need requirements may apply.

What is the fastest degree to get online?

You can find accelerated degrees in a variety of subjects: art, business management, English, and computer science. Many colleges allow online learners to complete traditional degrees faster than average timelines. Shortened semesters may allow students to take more classes per academic year, and generous transfer policies allow you to graduate quicker. For instance, Everglades University offers a bachelor's in business administration that you can complete in three and a half years instead of the traditional four years.

Best Online Colleges in Florida 2025

Q: What is the easiest online college to get into in Florida?

The Florida Institute of Technology Online in Melbourne, Florida, is one of the easiest online colleges to get into in the Sunshine State. The college admitted 92% of applicants in the fall of 2022. On the other end of the spectrum, the University of Miami, which admitted 19% of the 49,169 applicants in the fall of 2022, has one of the most selective admission processes in Florida, according to NCES. UM offers 10 online master's and doctoral programs and 12 certificates.

Sunshine, coastline, and prestigious schools attract students to Florida. Discover more about the benefits of attending an online college in Florida.

Edited by

Updated December 4, 2024

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Want to study in Florida? The Sunshine State has over 160 private and public four-year colleges that attract students from all over the world. And with the growth of online degree programs, those students can attend without traveling to Florida.

Florida offers affordable living costs for college students and tuition well below the national average. Studying online in Florida can provide an even cheaper college education, with many distance learning programs offering discounts to out-of-state students.

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In this Article

2025 Best Online 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.

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.

To qualify for our rankings lists, each school must be an accredited public or private, nonprofit institution. Each eligible school was then ranked based on a formula measuring:

Affordability (30%)
Student outcomes (30%)
Reputation (20%)
Diversity and social mobility (20%)

In addition, we only included colleges with graduation rates in the top third of all online colleges.

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$25,694

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

23%

Acceptance Rate

57%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

54,442

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,477

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,694

Acceptance Rate

23%

Online Enrollment

57%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$10,770

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,335

Retention Rate

97%

Students Enrolled

54,442

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$3,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,963

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

41%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

48,566

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,963

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,963

Acceptance Rate

41%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$8,350

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,048

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

48,566

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$18,566

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

59%

Acceptance Rate

67%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Florida International University

Miami, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,168

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,566

Acceptance Rate

59%

Online Enrollment

67%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$911

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$2,003

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

54,085

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$6,368

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$22,467

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

43%

Acceptance Rate

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,916

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,759

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

68,842

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,368

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,467

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,368

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,467

Acceptance Rate

43%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,916

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,759

Retention Rate

92%

Students Enrolled

68,842

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL4 yearCampus + Online

$6,099

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$21,665

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

73%

Acceptance Rate

68%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,467

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,695

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

30,849

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,099

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,665

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$6,099

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$21,665

Acceptance Rate

73%

Online Enrollment

68%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,467

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,695

Retention Rate

84%

Students Enrolled

30,849

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Florida College Tuition

College tuition runs far cheaper in Florida than the national average. Undergraduates attending public four-year colleges in Florida in 2022-2023 paid $4,540 for tuition and fees, about $5,000 less than the national average.

Private college students in Florida also pay less, spending an average of $30,928 in tuition and fees, while the national average for private college tuition was $35,248 in 2022-2023.

Florida online colleges may offer a more affordable education since you don’t need to pay for transportation and on-campus housing fees, though online learners sometimes need to pay technology fees not charged to on-campus students.

In addition, online tuition often costs less than studying on campus. For instance, in-state undergrads at the University of Florida pay $6,380 per year, while in-state undergrads at UF Online pay $3,876 per year. In this case, attending the University of Florida Online will save you nearly 50% in tuition.

Tuition for 10 Popular Florida Colleges 2023-24
University	In-State Tuition	Out-of-State Tuition
Everglades University	$20,768	$20,768
Florida Atlantic University	$4,879	$17,324
Florida Institute of Technology Online	$12,240	$12,240
Florida State University	$5,656	$18,786
Nova Southeastern University	$37,080	$37,080
The University of West Florida	$6,360	$19,241
University of Central Florida	$6,368	$22,467
University of Florida Online	$3,876	$16,579
University of Miami	$59,926	$59,926
University of South Florida	$6,410	$17,324

Source: NCES

Why Study Online in Florida?

Online learning offers many benefits beyond convenience, affordability, and flexibility. Here are five reasons you should consider online universities in Florida.

1. Study at Your Own Pace

Online learning blends independent study with live or prerecorded lectures, discussions, and virtual assistance. As an online learner, you may work primarily asynchronously, meeting deadlines each week, or attend live classes, where you can interact with instructors and classmates.

2. Lower Cost of Living

Florida offers a moderate cost of living, with a cost-of-living index of 102.4%. The cost-of-living index measures the cost of housing, food, healthcare, and other basic expenses in a state compared to the national average. Florida has the 33rd lowest cost of living.

3. More Diverse Classrooms

Many Florida colleges accept online learners from across state lines or even internationally, which allows you to make connections across the nation and world. Online programs attract a diverse selection of students to learn with and from.

4. Flexible and Convenient Format

You can earn your degree online without traveling to campus or attend a hybrid program that incorporates in-person learning. Students can choose classes that work around their work schedule and family life.

5. Growing Job Market

Florida saw a 2.6% job growth rate from July 2022-2023, compared to 1.9% nationally, according to the Florida governor’s office. In fact, the private sector in Florida added 42,800 jobs in July 2023. Students attending college in Florida will graduate into a healthy job market.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Colleges in Florida

Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, is one of the easiest online colleges to get into in the Sunshine State. The college admitted 100% of applicants in the fall of 2023.

On the other end of the spectrum, the University of Miami, which admitted 19% of the 48,286 applicants in the fall of 2023, has one of the most selective admission processes in Florida, according to NCES. UM offers 10 online master’s and doctoral programs and 12 certificates.