A Complete Guide to Colleges in Florida

Updated on September 19, 2023

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Especially known for their marine science and medical research programs, universities in Florida offer a wealth of options, from Miami to Orlando.

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10 Popular Universities in Florida

We compiled the following list of popular schools in Florida based on enrollment, affordability, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and overall reputation.

All school data below comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Tuition and fees are from 2022-2023, while acceptance rates, enrollment statistics, net prices, and number of applicants are from 2021.

1. University of Florida
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $6,381 (in-state) | $28,659 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Total Student Enrollment: 55,781
A large public university in Gainesville, UF received 51,000 undergraduate applications in fall 2021 — and admitted just 30%. Popular majors include biology, business, mechanical engineering, psychology, political science, and nursing.
UF has an active student life and Greek system, with over 60 fraternities and sororities. Its Florida Gators football team competes in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference. Many fondly refer to the school’s home stadium as “The Swamp.”

Image credit: Mireya Acierto / Photodisc / Getty Images

2. University of Miami
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $57,194
- Acceptance Rate: 28%
- Total Student Enrollment: 19,096
Located in a suburb of Miami called Coral Gables, UM is a popular private research university. Though its tuition costs may be higher than those at other Florida colleges, UM promises to meet 100% of admitted students’ demonstrated financial need.
Popular majors include finance, nursing, psychology, marketing, and economics. The university is also famous for its marine science program offered by the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

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3. Florida State University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $5,656 (in-state) | $18,786 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 37%
- Total Student Enrollment: 45,130
FSU is a public university based in Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. In 2021, a whopping 94% of first-time FSU undergraduates received grants or scholarships.
The university also actively works to involve undergraduates in high-level research coursework — 25% of FSU undergrads work on research outside of class and go on to co-author research publications.
FSU’s criminal justice program and film school are particularly renowned. Other popular majors include biology, finance, marketing, psychology, and political science.

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4. University of Central Florida
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $6,368 (in-state) | $22,467 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 36%
- Total Student Enrollment: 70,310
UCF is the state’s largest university, with a student population of 70,310. Based in Orlando, the university has several smaller regional campuses scattered around central Florida.
UCF’s proximity to Disney World is evident in its most popular majors: hospitality, digital arts, and media management. Other well-liked courses of study include psychology, nursing, criminal justice, engineering, health services, business, and biomedical sciences.
5. Florida International University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $6,565 (in-state) | $18,963 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Total Student Enrollment: 56,664
A public research university based in Miami, FIU is especially known for its hospitality program, environmental research, and sustainability efforts. One of the school’s most impressive centers is its Medina Aquarius Program, an underwater research facility.
Popular majors at FIU include biology, psychology, finance, hospitality, criminal justice, and international business. The college boasts a diverse student body, with students hailing from over 140 countries.
6. University of South Florida
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $6,410 (in-state) | $17,324 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Total Student Enrollment: 49,708
A lush and vibrant city on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Tampa is home to USF, a large public research university. The institution has a student population of 49,708 and received just over 50,000 new student applications in fall 2021.
The most popular majors at USF are health services, psychology, biomedical sciences, biology, nursing, and criminology. In 2021, 98% of beginning undergraduates received a grant or scholarship.
7. Florida Atlantic University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $4,879 (in-state) | $17,324 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Total Student Enrollment: 30,155
FAU is a public university in Boca Raton, which sits right on the southeast coast of Florida and boasts many beautiful beaches and parks. FAU has several successful Division I teams, making it a great choice for college sports lovers.
The institution specializes in marine biology, technology, and ocean energy research. Some of the most popular majors at FAU are biology, business, nursing, criminal justice, general studies, psychology, and marketing.
8. Florida A&M University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $5,785 (in-state) | $17,725 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 35%
- Total Student Enrollment: 9,000
A public historically Black university in Tallahassee, FAMU is relatively selective, with an acceptance rate of just 35%. The institution receives around 9,000 applications each fall — the same as its total student enrollment.
Despite its name, agricultural and mechanical disciplines don’t dominate academics at FAMU. The most popular majors here are actually business, health services, criminal justice, psychology, journalism, and general studies.
9. Nova Southeastern University
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $36,300
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Total Student Enrollment: 20,898
A private university in Fort Lauderdale, NSU prides itself on its small class sizes, with a 17-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. In 2021, 100% of the institution’s incoming undergraduates received a grant or scholarship.
NSU is renowned for its marine biology and medical programs. Popular majors include biology, nursing, psychology, business administration, and neuroscience.
10. Miami Dade College
- Avg. Undergraduate Tuition & Fees: $2,838 (in-state) | $9,661 (out-of-state)
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Total Student Enrollment: 44,002
MDC’s claim to fame is that it’s the most diverse institution in the U.S., with over 167 countries and 63 languages represented. Located in Miami, the college offers low tuition rates to both in-state and out-of-state students. It also has an open admissions policy, admitting anyone who applies.
MDC only offers undergraduate degrees and certificates, the latter of which are especially popular. The most popular bachelor’s degrees at MDC are business administration, information technology, nursing, law enforcement, and cinematography.

List of All Colleges in Florida

We’ve compiled an exhaustive list of all four-year nonprofit schools in Florida. The table below contains information on total student enrollment, average net price, acceptance rate, and number of applicants.

All Colleges in Florida
School	Total Student Enrollment	Avg. Annual Net Price	Acceptance Rate	Number of Applicants
AdventHealth University	1,667	$25,111	90%	257
Albizu University-Miami	838	$21,904	100%	27
Ana G. Mendez University	5,150	$10,876	100%	N/A
Ave Maria University	1,302	$18,643	64%	3,705
Barry University	7,337	$18,390	64%	10,651
Beacon College	460	$42,578	57%	472
Bethune-Cookman University	2,624	$11,717	100%	5,577
Broward College	30,947	$16,623	100%	N/A
Chipola College	1,756	$4,360	100%	N/A
College of Central Florida	5,331	$9,396	100%	N/A
Daytona State College	11,613	$7,929	100%	N/A
Eastern Florida State College	12,677	$4,775	100%	N/A
Eckerd College	2,036	$37,494	70%	5,580
Edward Waters University	2,871	$13,228	80%	6,254
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	9,593	$35,923	72%	9,255
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide	12,720	$15,600	70%	1,278
Everglades University	2,649	$29,341	60%	854
Flagler College	2,652	$24,798	74%	5,381
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	9,000	$12,539	35%	8,717
Florida Atlantic University	30,155	$8,771	78%	25,148
Florida College	535	$20,538	83%	272
Florida Gateway College	2,792	$2,803	100%	N/A
Florida Gulf Coast University	15,909	$9,840	89%	14,462
Florida Institute of Technology	7,830	$32,314	66%	10,650
Florida Institute of Technology-Online	1,461	$24,297	100%	147
Florida International University	56,664	$9,398	64%	16,406
Florida Memorial University	1,028	$17,486	57%	3,501
Florida Polytechnic University	1,563	$9,376	55%	2,124
Florida Southern College	3,386	$25,783	61%	10,759
Florida SouthWestern State College	14,756	$8,254	100%	N/A
Florida State College at Jacksonville	20,717	$3,062	100%	N/A
Florida State University	45,130	$12,684	37%	65,235
Gulf Coast State College	4,377	$4,163	100%	N/A
Herzing University-Orlando	732	$24,754	94%	142
Hodges University	551	$20,027	100%	N/A
Indian River State College	14,461	$3,902	100%	N/A
Jacksonville University	3,995	$23,503	78%	7,997
Keiser University-Ft. Lauderdale	19,861	$31,984	96%	4,120
Lake-Sumter State College	4,342	$5,457	100%	N/A
Lynn University	3,385	$38,315	83%	7,194
Miami Dade College	44,002	$4,211	100%	N/A
New College of Florida	659	$9,727	74%	1,650
North Florida College	1,182	$3,910	100%	N/A
Northwest Florida State College	4,697	$5,992	100%	N/A
Nova Southeastern University	20,898	$26,530	93%	11,749
Palm Beach Atlantic University	3,687	$27,881	90%	1,923
Palm Beach State College	24,151	$9,277	100%	N/A
Pasco-Hernando State College	9,257	$5,305	100%	N/A
Pensacola State College	8,604	$3,464	100%	N/A
Polk State College	9,044	$8,227	100%	N/A
Ringling College of Art and Design	1,663	$51,318	69%	2,117
Rollins College	3,057	$30,229	49%	8,409
Saint Johns River State College	6,318	$6,250	100%	N/A
Saint Leo University	9,523	$18,336	71%	10,086
Santa Fe College	12,830	$11,341	100%	N/A
Seminole State College of Florida	15,315	$3,481	100%	N/A
South Florida State College	2,777	$3,958	100%	N/A
Southeastern University	9,365	$27,536	45%	4,940
St Petersburg College	24,543	$2,477	100%	N/A
St. Thomas University	5,921	$28,550	71%	6,737
State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota	8,424	$12,485	100%	N/A
Stetson University	4,257	$20,278	92%	9,260
The Baptist College of Florida	446	$9,256	100%	36
The College of the Florida Keys	865	$16,338	100%	N/A
The University of Tampa	10,794	$34,720	54%	32,904
The University of West Florida	13,288	$10,344	53%	8,660
Trinity Baptist College	365	$17,098	43%	279
Trinity College of Florida	204	$14,857	47%	137
University of Central Florida	70,310	$11,575	36%	48,929
University of Florida	55,781	$9,809	30%	51,207
University of Florida-Online	5,168	$9,024	66%	1,766
University of Miami	19,096	$34,492	28%	42,245
University of North Florida	16,594	$7,746	77%	16,004
University of South Florida	49,708	$11,419	49%	50,352
Valencia College	43,599	$14,053	100%	N/A
Warner University	907	$19,143	53%	1,135
Webber International University	812	$26,710	46%	1,795

Source: NCES

Frequently Asked Questions About Colleges in Florida

What is the No. 1 college in Florida?

The University of Florida is one of the most popular colleges in Florida, with a stellar reputation. The institution has a total student population of 55,781 and received a staggering 51,207 applications in fall 2021.

Ultimately, though, the best college in Florida for you will depend on your budget, interests, and goals. Some students might prefer large public universities with Division I sports teams, while others might prefer small liberal arts colleges. When looking at schools in Florida, consider your preferences for factors like size, location, cost, academics, and community.

What is the hardest college to get into in Florida?

The University of Miami is the most selective college in Florida, with a 28% acceptance rate in fall 2021, according to NCES data. That year, the school received 42,245 new student applications — double its total student population of 19,096.

Do I qualify for in-state tuition in Florida?

You (or your parents or guardians) must be a resident in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months to qualify for in-state tuition. Though Florida residents may qualify for in-state tuition in some border states, those exceptions aren’t as common for out-of-state students attending colleges in Florida.