Best Florida Colleges

There are 103 colleges and universities in Florida enrolling 1,005,897 students. Explore the list of top colleges in Florida below to begin your college search. The CollegeSimply rankings are objective and data-driven in order to help you find good matches for you. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page. Whether you're searching for a good public, private or community college, this guide to universities in Florida offers a comprehensive view to the state's higher education options.

 Florida is home to nationally ranked institutions like University of Miami, University of Florida, Florida State University and Rollins College. The highest ranked college in Florida is University of Miami and the top rated public state college is University of Florida.

Local college options can be explored in Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa and St. Petersburg or other cities.

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Florida Public Private For-Profit 4 Year 2 Year

List of the Best Florida Colleges

University of Miami

  • Private 4 Year
  • Coral Gables, FL
  • 4.0 | 14 reviews
  • Jan 1 application deadline

University of Miami is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, business, and communications. The Coral Gables campus has Mediterranean-style buildings set among lakes and tropical landscaping.

#1 Best Colleges in Florida 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1320-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 19%
  • Net Price $45,397
Details

University of Florida

  • Public 4 Year
  • Gainesville, FL
  • 4.5 | 6 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

UF is a highly selective public university known for undergraduate business, engineering, and journalism. The large campus anchors the college town of Gainesville.

#2 Best Colleges in Florida 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1320-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $11,936
Details

Florida State University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

FSU is a large public university known for undergraduate film, criminology, and music. The campus is in Tallahassee, Florida's capital city.

#3 Best Colleges in Florida 8/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1270-1410
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.7
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $15,815
Details

Rollins College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winter Park, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • Feb 1 application deadline

Rollins is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business and international studies. Most undergrads live on a lakeside campus along Lake Virginia in Winter Park.

#4 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1370
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 48%
  • Net Price $39,201
Details

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach

  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Embry-Riddle is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, aeronautical science, and aviation. The Daytona Beach campus adjoins the local airport on Florida's Atlantic coast.

#5 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1360
  • Avg GPA 3.88
  • Acceptance Rate 65%
  • Net Price $42,976
Details

Florida Southern College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lakeland, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

Florida Southern is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and nursing. The Lakeland campus holds the world's largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.

#6 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1150-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.73
  • Acceptance Rate 64%
  • Net Price $29,384
Details

Florida Institute of Technology

  • Private 4 Year
  • Melbourne, FL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Florida Tech is a private university known for undergraduate aerospace engineering, ocean engineering, and aviation. The Melbourne campus sits on Florida's Space Coast near the Atlantic Ocean.

#7 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1120-1320
  • Avg GPA 3.72
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $37,361
Details

Eckerd College

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Petersburg, FL
  • 4.0 | 1 reviews

Eckerd is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate marine science and environmental studies. The waterfront campus borders Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg.

#8 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1160-1330
  • Avg GPA 3.8
  • Acceptance Rate 76%
  • Net Price $43,884
Details

Stetson University

  • Private 4 Year
  • DeLand, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Stetson is a private university known for undergraduate business and music. The historic campus sits in the college town of DeLand in Central Florida.

#9 Best Colleges in Florida 7/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1060-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.69
  • Acceptance Rate 72%
  • Net Price $20,319
Details

Jacksonville University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Jacksonville University is a private university known for undergraduate nursing, aviation, and marine science. The campus sits along the St. Johns River.

#10 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1100-1280
  • Avg GPA 3.61
  • Acceptance Rate 57%
  • Net Price $24,238
Details

University of South Florida

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

USF is a large public university known for undergraduate public health, business, and engineering. The main campus is a large urban site in Tampa near Tampa Bay.

#11 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1320
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $11,579
Details

University of Central Florida

  • Public 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • 4.2 | 6 reviews
  • May 1 application deadline

UCF is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management, aerospace engineering, and digital media. The large suburban campus sits in east Orlando near the region's tourism industry.

#12 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $13,351
Details

Nova Southeastern University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • 4.5 | 2 reviews

Nova Southeastern is a private university known for undergraduate marine science, health sciences, and psychology. The suburban campus sits in the Fort Lauderdale area of South Florida.

#13 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1300
  • Avg GPA 3.99
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $31,858
Details

Palm Beach Atlantic University

  • Private 4 Year
  • West Palm Beach, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Palm Beach Atlantic is a private Christian university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and ministry. The urban campus in West Palm Beach borders the Intracoastal Waterway.

#14 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 950-1220
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.36
  • Acceptance Rate 82%
  • Net Price $31,231
Details

The University of Tampa

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 2.5 | 13 reviews

University of Tampa is a private university known for undergraduate business, marine science, and nursing. The urban campus centers on historic Plant Hall along the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.

#15 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.5
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $35,679
Details

University of North Florida

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

UNF is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and coastal biology. The suburban Jacksonville campus includes lakes and a large nature preserve with trails.

#16 Best Colleges in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $11,135
Details

Florida International University

  • Public 4 Year
  • Miami, FL
  • 4.1 | 7 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

FIU is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management and international business. The urban campus in Miami has a large Hispanic student population and strong Latin American ties.

#17 Best Colleges in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1260
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $11,178
Details

Ave Maria University

  • Private 4 Year
  • Ave Maria, FL
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews

Ave Maria is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate theology, philosophy, and the liberal arts. The campus anchors the planned town of Ave Maria in southwest Florida.

#18 Best Colleges in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1018-1240
  • Avg GPA 3.6
  • Acceptance Rate 41%
  • Net Price $25,294
Details