Top Rated Florida Private Colleges

These are the top ranked private four-year colleges in Florida. Leading the rankings for 2027 as the highest ranked private college in Florida is University of Miami. Learn how the Best Colleges rankings are calculated on our ranking methodology page.

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Florida Private 4 Year

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

  • 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.

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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • 4.5 | 8 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • 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.

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

  • Private 4 Year
  • Daytona Beach, FL
  • | 0 reviews

Embry-Riddle Worldwide is a private university known for undergraduate aviation, aeronautics, and aerospace programs offered mainly online. Most students complete degrees through flexible distance learning rather than a traditional residential campus.

#13 Best Private Colleges in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1040-1240
  • Avg GPA NA
  • Acceptance Rate 58%
  • Net Price $19,458
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Augustine, FL
  • 0.0 | 1 reviews
  • Mar 1 application deadline

Flagler is a private liberal arts college known for undergraduate business, education, and communication. The historic campus centers on the former Hotel Ponce de Leon in downtown St. Augustine.

#14 Best Private Colleges in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 960-1190
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.38
  • Acceptance Rate 81%
  • Net Price $32,395
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Boca Raton, FL
  • 3.0 | 4 reviews
  • Aug 1 application deadline

Lynn is a private university known for undergraduate business, communication, and hospitality management. The suburban Boca Raton campus sits near Florida's Atlantic coast.

#15 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 1040-1200
  • Avg GPA 3.3
  • Acceptance Rate 73%
  • Net Price $45,469
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Saint Leo, FL
  • 5.0 | 1 reviews

Saint Leo is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate criminal justice, business, and education. The campus adjoins a Benedictine abbey in a small central Florida town north of Tampa.

#16 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 980-1190
  • Avg GPA 3.1
  • Acceptance Rate 78%
  • Net Price $22,599
Details

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

Southeastern is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, business, and education. The campus is in Lakeland, a midsize city between Tampa and Orlando.

#17 Best Private Colleges in Florida
  • SAT Range 960-1183
  • Avg GPA 3.48
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $32,334
Details
St. Thomas University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Miami Gardens, FL
  • 1.0 | 1 reviews

St. Thomas is a private Catholic university known for undergraduate business, criminal justice, and sports administration. The suburban campus lies in Miami Gardens just north of Miami.

#18 Best Private Colleges in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 860-1060
  • Avg GPA 3.24
  • Acceptance Rate 98%
  • Net Price $27,844
Details