Best colleges in Florida

Written by:
March 6, 2023
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Best colleges in Florida

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions a person will make for their education, impacting everything from future earnings and employment to potential student loan debt and social circles.

While every student wants to get the best education they possibly can, there are myriad considerations to take into account: location, size, diversity, areas of focus, study abroad opportunities—the list goes on. While best college lists are often topped with the same handful of expensive Ivy League schools, the U.S. is home to more than 4,000 degree-granting schools spread out across all 50 states and several territories, with amazing education offerings for students to consider.

Stacker compiled a list of the best four-year colleges in Florida using rankings from Niche. Tuition, student-to-faculty ratio, acceptance rate, and graduation rate are factors considered in deciding these rankings. Location is also often a key factor in a school's appeal, whether it be a beachside location, one full of New England foliage, or proximity to tech hubs and companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Online and unspecified location schools were excluded from the rankings. Keep reading to see the best schools in your state.

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#25. University of Tampa

- Acceptance rate: 56%
- Net price: $33,020
- Enrollment: 8,333 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Location grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Party grade: A

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#24. Florida Southern College

- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Net price: $27,091
- Enrollment: 2,579 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Athletics grade: A
--- Diversity grade: B+
--- Academics grade: B

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#23. Jacksonville University

- Acceptance rate: 78%
- Net price: $24,502
- Enrollment: 2,354 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Value grade: B+
--- Athletics grade: B+

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#22. Florida Gulf Coast University

- Acceptance rate: 77%
- Net price: $10,151
- Enrollment: 11,098 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B
--- Dorms grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Safety grade: A

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#21. New College of Florida

- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $11,869
- Enrollment: 646 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: B+

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#20. Stetson University

- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Net price: $23,864
- Enrollment: 3,082 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Professors grade: A
--- Student life grade: A-

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#19. University of North Florida

- Acceptance rate: 80%
- Net price: $9,789
- Enrollment: 10,817 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Campus grade: A
--- Campus food grade: A
--- Value grade: A-

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#18. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Worldwide

- Acceptance rate: 63%
- Net price: $19,940
- Enrollment: 2,811 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Value grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A-

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#17. Florida Atlantic University

- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Net price: $11,451
- Enrollment: 16,617 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Location grade: A
--- Athletics grade: A-

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#16. Everglades University

- Acceptance rate: 75%
- Net price: $30,154
- Enrollment: 1,877 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+
--- Safety grade: A+

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#15. University of West Florida

- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Net price: $8,452
- Enrollment: 6,559 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Athletics grade: A-
--- Student life grade: A-

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#14. Keiser University - Fort Lauderdale

- Acceptance rate: 97%
- Net price: $31,371
- Enrollment: 10,947 (9:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+
--- Safety grade: A+

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#13. Florida A&M University

- Acceptance rate: 33%
- Net price: $12,903
- Enrollment: 6,244 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: B+
--- Party grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A
--- Campus food grade: A-

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#12. Nova Southeastern University

- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Net price: $26,317
- Enrollment: 5,366 (5:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-

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#11. Rollins College

- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Net price: $33,216
- Enrollment: 2,425 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Location grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+

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#10. Florida Institute of Technology

- Acceptance rate: 70%
- Net price: $33,313
- Enrollment: 3,013 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Professors grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-

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#9. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach

- Acceptance rate: 61%
- Net price: $36,906
- Enrollment: 6,035 (19:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Diversity grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-
--- Professors grade: A-

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#8. University of South Florida - St. Petersburg

- Acceptance rate: 27%
- Net price: $10,841
- Enrollment: 2,570 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A-
--- Campus grade: A
--- Location grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-

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#7. University of South Florida - Sarasota-Manatee

- Acceptance rate: 24%
- Net price: $2,734
- Enrollment: 958 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Safety grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A
--- Academics grade: A-

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#6. Florida International University

- Acceptance rate: 58%
- Net price: $8,988
- Enrollment: 27,551 (20:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Campus food grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+

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#5. University of Central Florida

- Acceptance rate: 45%
- Net price: $11,108
- Enrollment: 43,513 (28:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Student life grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A

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#4. University of South Florida

- Acceptance rate: 49%
- Net price: $10,004
- Enrollment: 29,650 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Student life grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A

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#3. Florida State University

- Acceptance rate: 32%
- Net price: $12,815
- Enrollment: 29,072 (17:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Campus grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+

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#2. University of Miami

- Acceptance rate: 33%
- Net price: $31,726
- Enrollment: 12,089 (8:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Diversity grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+

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#1. University of Florida

- Acceptance rate: 31%
- Net price: $10,075
- Enrollment: 31,476 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)
- Overall Niche grade: A+
--- Academics grade: A+
--- Value grade: A+
--- Athletics grade: A+

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