Florida Southern vs. JU

Deciding between Florida Southern College and Jacksonville University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Florida Southern College
Jacksonville University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Southern Lakeland, FL
  • JU Jacksonville, FL
  • Setting
  • Florida Southern Small City
  • JU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida Southern 3,211
  • JU 4,247
  • Type
  • Florida Southern Private 4 Year
  • JU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida Southern #325
  • JU #399
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida Southern United Methodist
  • JU -
  • Status
  • Florida Southern Non-profit
  • JU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida Southern
  • JU
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • JU $47,830
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida Southern $44,040
  • JU $47,830
  • Room & Board
  • Florida Southern $14,360
  • JU $17,210
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida Southern $29,384
  • JU $24,238
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern $31,394
  • JU $39,859
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida Southern 100%
  • JU 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida Southern 10,800
  • JU 8,184
  • Admitted
  • Florida Southern 6,957
  • JU 4,660
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida Southern 64.4%
  • JU 56.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • JU 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida Southern 1240
  • JU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida Southern 27
  • JU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida Southern 3.73
  • JU 3.61
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida Southern A-
  • JU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Southern Difficult
  • JU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Southern Low
  • JU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida Southern 25/30
  • JU 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • Florida Southern 1150/1330
  • JU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Southern Test optional
  • JU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Southern May 1, 2027
  • JU
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida Southern 11:1
  • JU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida Southern
    • Business (22%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
  • JU
    • Health Professions (47%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida Southern 55%
  • JU 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida Southern $42,700
  • JU $54,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • JU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida Southern $24,000
  • JU $22,621
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida Southern $248
  • JU $233
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida Southern 35%
  • JU 39%
  • % Women
  • Florida Southern 65%
  • JU 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida Southern Low
  • JU High
  • HBCU
  • Florida Southern No
  • JU No
  • % White
  • Florida Southern 74%
  • JU 48%
  • % Asian
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • JU 2%
  • % Black
  • Florida Southern 6%
  • JU 14%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida Southern 11%
  • JU 8%
  • % Native American
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • JU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida Southern 0%
  • JU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida Southern 2%
  • JU 2%
  • % International
  • Florida Southern 4%
  • JU 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida Southern 1%
  • JU 19%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida Southern 60%
  • JU 46%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida Southern 38%
  • JU 49%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Florida Southern No
  • JU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Florida Southern Yes
  • JU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Florida Southern No
  • JU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL with Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Jacksonville University is larger than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (4,247 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Florida Southern College is located in Lakeland, FL (Small City setting); Jacksonville University is in Jacksonville, FL (Large City setting).
  • Florida Southern College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Jacksonville University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Florida Southern College 11:1; Jacksonville University 11:1.

Florida Southern vs. JU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or JU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jacksonville University than Florida Southern ($24,238 vs. $29,384).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 16.6% lower than at Jacksonville University ($14,360 vs. $17,210).
  • Jacksonville University is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida Southern (about $3,790 more per year; $47,830.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at JU than at Florida Southern College (about $3,790 more per year; $47,830.00 vs. $44,040.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Florida Southern College as at Jacksonville University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jacksonville University students is 27% larger than aid received by Florida Southern College students ($39,859 vs. $31,394).

Florida Southern vs. JU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or JU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between JU and Florida Southern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Florida Southern College (1240) is 50 points higher than at JU (1190).
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at JU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 1150/1330; Jacksonville University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Florida Southern College 25/30; Jacksonville University 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida Southern - Test optional; JU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Southern May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at JU (3.61).
  • Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (64.4%) than JU (56.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11% at Florida Southern vs. 16.3% at JU.

Florida Southern vs. JU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida Southern and JU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Florida Southern College's six-year graduation rate (55%) is higher than Jacksonville University's (40%).
  • Graduates from Jacksonville University earn a median of about $12,100 more per year than Florida Southern graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,800 vs. $42,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Jacksonville University graduates have a $1,379 lower median loan debt than Florida Southern graduates ($22,621 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, JU graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Florida Southern graduates ($233 vs. $248).
  • More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former JU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.