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10 Best Colleges in Florida
What’s Covered:
Want to spend your college years in the Sunshine State? If so, you’re in luck. Florida is home to numerous outstanding colleges and universities. We’ve rounded up the 10 best higher education institutions in the state and compiled them into this easy-to-access list.
Our Ranking Methodology
Our ranking are mainly focused on school quality, student outcomes, and return on investment (ROI). We also factored in data such as retention rate, selectivity, endowment per student, student-faculty ratio, median earnings, and cost of attendance, among many others. You should also check out our full rankings of schools across the country.
10 Best Colleges in Florida
1. University of Florida
Location: Gainesville
Acceptance Rate: 39%
Middle 50% SAT: 1280-1440
Middle 50% ACT: 27-32
Undergrad Enrollment: 35,400
UF is a top public research university, a senior member of Florida’s State University System. CollegeVine ranks UF the 7th best public college in the country. The university offers 100 undergraduate majors and 30 certificates, along with 200 graduate programs. Some of its unique options include combination degrees, which prepare students for careers in a fraction of the time of undergraduate plus graduate education. Another program is the Innovation Academy, which equips students with entrepreneurship and leadership skills through a rigorous experience.
Learn more about UF and what it takes to get accepted.
2. University of Miami
Location: Coral Gables
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Middle 50% SAT: 1250-1430
Middle 50% ACT: 29-32
Undergrad Enrollment: 11,100
Across 12 schools and three campuses, UMiami offers 180 academic programs and majors for undergraduates, from marine science to broadcast journalism, and nearly 350 majors and programs in total. Teaching and learning are the core of the university’s mission, and Miami thrives on diverse thoughts and perspectives.
UMiami is also well known for it’s beautiful campus—with pools adjacent to on-campus housing—and it’s location in Miami. Whether it’s going to the beach or checking out Miami’s nightlife, there is always something for students to do when they leave campus.
Learn more about UMiami and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Florida State University
Location: Tallahassee
Acceptance Rate: 37%
Middle 50% SAT: 1200-1350
Middle 50% ACT: 26-30
Undergrad Enrollment: 32,400
Founded in 1851, FSU has been designated a “preeminent research university” by the Florida Legislature. The university provides a foundation in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, adhering to a liberal arts mission. More than a quarter of undergraduate students conduct academic research prior to graduation. Meanwhile, FSU’s arts programs, in dance, film, music, and theatre, rank among the best in the world.
Learn more about FSU and what it takes to get accepted.
4. University of South Florida
Location: Tampa
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Middle 50% SAT: 1170-1330
Middle 50% ACT: 25-30
Undergrad Enrollment: 32,200
Founded in 1956, USF is a diverse university with 200 undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations across 13 colleges, ranging from business to the arts. U.S. News calls it the fastest-rising university in America—USF has risen 67 spots among all universities in the country over the past 10 years. One of just three Preeminent Research Universities in Florida, the university is deeply committed to student success in a variety of fields.
Learn more about USF and what it takes to get accepted.
5. University of Central Florida
Location: Orlando
Acceptance Rate: 43%
Middle 50% SAT 1160-1340
Middle 50% ACT: 25-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 58,800
Serving the largest student body of any public university in the country, UCF offers a vast variety of degree options, including fully online. Popular majors include Integrated Business, Digital Media, Nursing, Health Sciences, Computer Science, among many others. Whether students are learning online or in person, UCF has a huge array of resources and support, including online success coaches and innovative programming. For students at the Orlando campus, they are only half an hour away from the theme parks Orlando is famously known for.
Learn more about UCF and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Florida International University
Location: Miami
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Middle 50% SAT: 1090-1260
Middle 50% ACT: 23-28
Undergrad Enrollment: 48,800
A top-tier research institution, FIU offers a range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree options—including more than 130 degrees and program tracks completely online—across 11 schools and colleges. The university is also home to the state’s only public colleges of law and medicine. FIU boasts a prestigious Honors College with award-winning faculty and more than 190 degree options. Even though the student body is so large, with over 300 clubs and organizations, everyone can find a community at FIU.
Learn more about FIU and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Rollins College
Location: Winter Park
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,500
Florida’s oldest post-secondary institution, Rollins College was established in 1885. Its mission is to instill lifelong learning ideals in its students. The school has more than 60 areas of study, and its professors are ranked the best in the South by U.S. News. Personalized pathways, mentorship, hands-on experience, and more are just some of the reasons why students flock to Rollins.
Learn more about Rollins and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Beacon College
Location: Leesburg
Acceptance Rate: 51%
Middle 50% SAT: N/A
Middle 50% ACT: N/A
Undergrad Enrollment: 400
Beacon is the first accredited college to offer four-year degrees specifically designed to meet the needs of students with diagnosed learning disabilities, including dyslexia and ADHD. With two- and four-year degrees in Anthrozoology, Business Management, Computer Information, Human Services, Humanities, Psychology, and Studio Arts, Beacon has small class sizes and plenty of personalized attention and mentoring for learners with unique styles.
Learn more about Beacon and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Florida Atlantic University
Location: Boca Raton
Acceptance Rate: 59%
Middle 50% SAT: 1080-1240
Middle 50% ACT: 21-25
Undergrad Enrollment: 24,300
FAU has many claims to fame. For one, it is ranked among the best in the country for undergraduate research, with more than 6,000 undergraduate research activities. It is also the #1 diverse public university in Florida. Additionally, its online programs are considered highly innovative, not to mention flexible. With over 170 degree options across 10 different schools, there is something for everyone to pursue here.
Learn more about FAU and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Florida Southern College
Location: Lakeland
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Middle 50% SAT: 1130-1300
Middle 50% ACT: 23-29
Undergrad Enrollment: 2,700
In addition to exemplary academics, Florida Southern is the site of the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world. Perhaps this is part of why the school is frequently ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. The university offers its students plenty of opportunities, from research to performance to study abroad. Moreover, students can choose from more than 70 undergraduate programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, and business.
Learn more about Florida Southern and what it takes to get accepted.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance?
Whether you hope to attend college in Florida or in another state, it’s important to create a balanced list of schools that includes safety, target, and reach institutions. You can use our free chancing engine to find out your chances of admission to these schools and others across the country, plus get free tips on how to improve your profile for success.
