Florida Southern vs. The University of West Florida

Should I go to Florida Southern College or The University of West Florida? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Florida Southern or The University of West Florida is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

UT Nova UNF University of South Alabama UCF FGCU Florida State Eckerd College FAU University of South Florida St. Petersburg USF Main Campus Florida
Florida Southern College vs. The University of West Florida comparison
Florida Southern College The University of West Florida College 3 College 4
Florida Southern College The University of West Florida
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Location Lakeland, FL Pensacola, FL
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 3,281 13,521
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #425 #727
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website flsouthern.edu uwf.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Tuition (In State) $39,700 $4,319
Tuition (Out of State) $39,700 $16,587
Room & Board $12,400 $11,268
Avg Net Price $27,324 $8,609
Avg Grant Aid $27,730 $11,515
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 84%

Admission

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,120 9,113
Admitted 6,295 4,377
Acceptance Rate 56.6% 48%
Enrolled % 12% 27%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.6
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Average
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/29 21/27
SAT Range 1080/1290 1050/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline May 1, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 22:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Graduation Rate 55% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,700 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $18,750
Median Loan Payment $248 $193

Diversity

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
% Men 37% 38%
% Women 63% 62%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 65%
% Black 6% 13%
% Hispanic 11% 9%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 5%
% International 4% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
% In-State 51% 66%
% Out-of-State 45% 11%

Campus

Florida Southern The University of West Florida
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • The University of West Florida is larger than than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (13,521 students vs. 3,281 students)

Florida Southern vs. The University of West Florida Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or The University of West Florida?

  • Florida Southern College is 819.2% more expensive to attend than The University of West Florida for in-state tuition ($39,700.00 vs. $4,319.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 139.3% higher at Florida Southern than The University of West Florida ($39,700.00 vs. $16,587.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of West Florida than Florida Southern ($8,609 vs. $27,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of West Florida are 10% lower than costs at Florida Southern College ($11,268 vs. $12,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Florida Southern College than The University of West Florida (100% vs. 84%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 140.8% larger than aid received The University of West Florida ($27,730 vs. $11,515)

Florida Southern vs. The University of West Florida Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or The University of West Florida? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between The University of West Florida or Florida Southern .

  • The average SAT score at Florida Southern College (1172) is 119 points higher than at The University of West Florida (1053)
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at The University of West Florida (23)
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at The University of West Florida (3.6)
  • Florida Southern has a higher acceptance rate (56.6%) than The University of West Florida (48%)

Florida Southern vs. The University of West Florida Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Florida Southern or The University of West Florida? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between The University of West Florida and Florida Southern.

  • The graduation rate at Florida Southern is higher than The University of West Florida (55% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Florida Southern College earn on average $1,500 more per year than The University of West Florida graduates after ten years. ($42,700 vs. $41,200)
  • The University of West Florida students graduate with a $5,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Florida Southern graduates. ($18,750 vs. $24,000)
  • The University of West Florida graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Florida Southern graduates. ($193 vs. $248)
  • More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The University of West Florida students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/