The Best Colleges In Florida

Beaches, sunshine, close proximity to Central and South America? No wonder you want to study in Florida! The Sunshine State has some very worthy schools as well, and can be a great place to go to college.

We’ve rounded up a list of the best colleges in Florida right here. Check out tuition rates, programs offered, and more.

What Kind of Colleges Are in Florida?

Florida has plenty of options for studying. Prospective Florida students can choose from twelve public universities, six medical schools, and a large number of smaller, private colleges and universities.

What Can You Do With a Degree from Colleges in Florida?

If you graduate from a school in Florida, you may find that you want to stick around. And there is plenty of work in the state! Florida’s largest industries are in manufacturing, security, IT, life sciences and aerospace/aviation, and there are plenty of jobs to go around.

Top Colleges in Florida

Here are the leading colleges in Florida, let’s explore what makes them unique:

University of Florida

The University of Florida is ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States by U.S. News. With a focus on innovation, the university has a college dedicated to just that, called the Innovation Academy.

UF students are active sports fans, enjoy the college town of Gainesville, and have a large number of on-campus activities to choose from.

Tuition: $28,658 out-of-state, $6,380 in-state

Programs Offered: Certificate, undergraduate, and graduate programs in schools such as agriculture and life sciences, the arts, business, dentistry, design, education, engineering, health and human performance, journalism, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary science.

Florida State University

Florida State University is one of the top universities in Florida. The main campus is in Tallahassee, FL, but there are other campuses in Panama, New York, Italy, Spain, and other areas of Florida. It is a large city campus, with an active sports fan base and a number of academic programs to choose from.

Tuition: $21,683 out-of-state, $6,680 in-state

Programs Offered: Undergraduate programs, master’s programs, advanced master’s programs, doctorates, and J.D. and M.D.

University of Miami

The University of Miami is set in a beautiful location — close to the Florida Keys and the Florida Everglades. The college is also right next to downtown Miami, which has a thriving international culture. Students can join Division 1 sports teams, a number of clubs and organizations, and live both on or off campus.

Tuition: $52,080

Programs Offered: Schools of architecture, education and human development, aeronautical and marine sciences, law, public health, nursing, engineering, arts, and sciences offer both graduate and undergraduate programs. Some of these programs are also offered fully online.

University of South Florida

The University of South Florida, or USF, is a large public research university located in Tampa. Other USF campuses are in Sarasota and St Petersburg. Students are required to live on campus during their first year at school. USF has highly regarded programs in medicine, education, and engineering.

Tuition: $17,324 out-of-state, $6,410 in-state

Programs Offered: 16 colleges in arts, nursing, business, engineering, marine sciences, and more offer a large number of undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs.

University of Central Florida

University of Central Florida is a very large school located in Orlando, FL, and has 10 other regional campuses across the state. UCF has plenty for students to get involved in, including sports, clubs, and Greek life.

Tuition: $22,467 out-of-state, $6,368 in-state

Programs Offered: Undergraduate and graduate degrees in arts and humanities, business, engineering and computer science, optics and photonics, hospitality management, and more.

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida Tech is a private university focusing on providing excellent education in technical fields. It started as a space training center, but has now broadened to include other technical areas of studies. The school is located right next to the water, in Melbourne, FL, making it ideal for students who love water sports.

Tuition: $42,470

Programs Offered: Undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, aeronautics, psychology, liberal arts, and business.

Florida International University

FIU is a public university with a large Hispanic enrollment, located in Miami. With two locations — one in West Miami and one in North Miami — students can choose which campus offers the best experience for them.

Tuition: $18,956 out-of-state, $6,558 in-state

Programs Offered: 270 degree programs from the colleges of arts, science & education, hospitality & tourism, engineering & computing, law, medicine, public health & social work, international affairs, and health sciences.

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University, or FAU, is a large public school located in sunny Boca Raton, FL. Its student-centered approach to higher education and research makes it a great choice for Florida and non-Florida residents.

Tuition: $21,585 out-of-state, $6,039 in-state

Programs Offered: 170 degrees from the colleges of arts & letters, business, design & social inquiry, education, engineering and computer science, medicine, nursing, and other sciences.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University was the first and is still the largest aviation-focused university in the world. The school is still an aeronautical school, and has a large majority male population.

Tuition: $36,868

Programs Offered: Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and certificates in applied science, aviation, business, computers and technology, engineering, security/intelligence/safety, and space.

University of North Florida

The University of North Florida is a medium-sized urban public university located in Jacksonville, close to the Florida coast. UNF offers students the chance to participate in media production, sports on a variety of levels, and in many clubs and organizations.

Tuition: $20,112 out-of-state, $6,394 in-state

Programs Offered: Undergraduate and graduate programs from the colleges of arts & sciences, health, business, computing, engineering, construction, and education.

Alternative Option: Studying Online

While Florida has a number of great schools, you may still want to consider studying online, from your home in Florida, or anywhere really! Studying online means that all you need is a computer, an internet connection and some motivation to get an entire degree. You don’t need to worry about being located near a school, transportation, or making sure your school schedule doesn’t interfere with your work or family life.

Studying online is just as effective for learning as in-person study. Not only that, but because you are studying over the internet, you will also be able to build many important skills needed for success in today’s workforce. Skills such as written communication, time management, remote work, and understanding of online software are all valuable skills online students learn.

While studying at University of the People, you learn all of these skills and more. Our accredited, fully online, and tuition-free programs in Business, Computer Science, Education, and Health Sciences will help you prepare for a successful future in whatever you set your mind to — whether in Florida, or anywhere else in the world.