Florida Colleges and Universities

Complete Guide to Higher Education in Florida - 64 Universities, Bright Futures & Florida Prepaid

64

Accredited Universities

12 public + 28 colleges + private

700,000+

FCS Enrollment

28 colleges, 70 campuses

$4,836

Avg In-State Tuition

LOWEST in nation

Bright Futures

State Scholarship

Up to 100% tuition coverage

📚 Table of Contents

🎓 Florida's Top 3 Universities

University of Florida (UF)

#30 National #7 Public

Enrollment: 54,814 total (36,573 undergrad)

Acceptance Rate: 24%

Rankings: #30 National Universities, #7 Top Public Schools

Test Scores: SAT 1300-1480, Student-faculty ratio 16:1

Graduation Rate: 83% four-year

In-State: $6,381

Out-of-State: $30,886

Florida State University (FSU)

#51 National #21 Public

Enrollment: 44,308 total (32,720 undergrad)

Acceptance Rate: 25.4%

Programs: 103 bachelor's, 107 master's, 63 doctoral

Popular Majors: Psychology (879 degrees), Finance (703), Marketing (649)

Out-of-State: $21,683

University of Central Florida (UCF)

LARGEST in Florida

Enrollment: 69,818 total (59,649 undergrad) - Largest in Florida, 2nd largest in USA

Founded: 1963, initial enrollment 1,948 students

Students From: 142 countries, all 50 states

🏫 12 State Universities (State University System)

State University System of Florida: 12 public universities enrolling 430,000+ students
  • University of South Florida (USF)
    Tampa, 50,000+ students, #88 overall, #43 public, AAU member
  • Florida International University (FIU)
    Miami, 53,953 students, #1 Hispanic-serving, 64% Hispanic/Latino
  • Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
    Boca Raton, 30,000+ students, 10 colleges, 170+ programs
  • University of West Florida
    Pensacola
  • Florida Gulf Coast University
    Fort Myers
  • University of North Florida
    Jacksonville
  • Florida A&M University (FAMU)
    Tallahassee, HBCU
  • Florida Polytechnic University
    Lakeland, STEM-focused
  • Florida Memorial University
    Miami Gardens
  • New College of Florida
    Sarasota, honors college

🏢 Major Private Universities

University of Miami

#64 National 19% Acceptance

Location: Coral Gables, FL

Enrollment: 13,250 undergraduate

Tuition: $65,430

Top Programs: Business, Marine Science, Communications, Medicine, Nursing (#1 private BSN in Florida, #13 nationally)

Financial Aid: 42% receive need-based aid, avg net price $34,625

🎯 Florida College System (28 Colleges)

🎉 700,000+ Students Annually! 28 colleges, 70 campuses, 179 sites across Florida. 65% of Florida high school graduates pursuing higher education start here.

Florida College System Overview

Total Colleges: 28 public community colleges and state colleges

Infrastructure: 70 campuses, 179 sites, 2,171 buildings, 13,485 acres

Enrollment: 700,000 students annually (FY 2024-25: 304,604 FTE, 7.2% increase)

Demographics: 82% of freshman/sophomore minority students in Florida public higher education attend FCS

💰 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship

Bright Futures - Florida's State Scholarship Program

Overview: Florida's merit-based scholarship program covering tuition and fees at Florida public and private institutions

General Requirements (All Levels)

  • Florida resident and U.S. citizen/eligible non-citizen
  • Standard high school diploma
  • Complete Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) by 8/31 graduation year
  • Enroll in eligible Florida institution (6+ credit hours per term)
  • No felony conviction

Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)

  • Award: 100% tuition & fees + $300
  • GPA: 3.5 weighted (core courses)
  • Test Scores: SAT Reading 490+, Math 480+ (or ACT English 17, Reading 19, Math 19)
  • Service: 75 volunteer hours (for students entering grade 9 in 2024-25+)

Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)

  • Award: 75% tuition & fees
  • GPA: 3.0 weighted (core courses)
  • Service/Work: 100 total hours (community service, paid work, or combination)
Important: All requirements must be met by graduation, but test scores taken by August 31 are accepted for evaluation.

💵 Florida Prepaid & 529 Plans

Florida Prepaid 529 Plan

Established: 1987 - Nation's most extensive and longest-running prepaid tuition program

What It Does: Locks in future cost of tuition and required fees at Florida public institutions

State Guarantee: Backed by the State of Florida, providing predictable costs and guaranteed coverage

Residency Benefit: Beneficiary classified as Florida resident for tuition purposes even if moved out of state

Combines With: Can be combined with Bright Futures and other financial aid

Florida Investment 529 Savings Plan

Type: Investment-based account with range of investment options

Options: Enrollment year funds, static portfolios, individual funds

Tax Benefits: Tax-free growth potential, tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses

State Aid Treatment: Neither Florida Prepaid nor Florida Investment 529 Plans affect eligibility for Florida Bright Futures Scholarship or other state financial aid programs.

💲 Florida Tuition - LOWEST in Nation

🏆 Florida has the LOWEST in-state tuition of any state in the entire country! Average yearly in-state tuition: $4,836 at public institutions (national average: $9,118).
CategoryFlorida AverageNational AverageSavings
In-State Tuition & Fees$3,808$9,118Save $5,310/year
Out-of-State Tuition & Fees$13,841$25,859Save $12,018/year

Top Florida Universities Tuition:

  • University of Florida: In-state $6,381, Out-of-state $30,886
  • Florida State University: Out-of-state $21,683 (one of cheapest for OOS)
  • University of Central Florida: Out-of-state $22,467
  • University of Miami (Private): $65,430

💻 Florida Online Colleges

UF Online - University of Florida

Programs: 24 fully online four-year degrees (same accredited degrees as on-campus)

Popular: Nursing, Education Sciences, Business Administration

Graduate: 40+ online master's programs, 7 online doctorate programs

Other Major Online Programs

  • FSU Distance: Computer Science, Financial Planning, Criminology, Public Safety
  • FIU Online: 40 bachelor's + 32 master's programs
  • FGCU Online: Accredited courses and degrees with timely scheduling
Florida Virtual Campus: State University System collectively offers hundreds of degree programs and thousands of course sections online through FloridaShines website.

📋 Testing Requirements 2024-2025

⚠️ Policy Change: Most Florida public universities REQUIRE SAT/ACT scores for 2024-2025 (no longer test-optional).

Testing REQUIRED - State University System

Requires Testing: UF, FSU, FIU, USF, and all other State University System of Florida schools

Change: ACT Science section now optional at UF - only Reading, English, Mathematics required for composite

Test-Optional (Temporary) - University of Miami

Spring/Fall 2025: Test-optional (students may choose whether to submit)

Fall 2026+: Will require test results

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Florida has 64 accredited universities including 12 public universities in the State University System (430,000+ students), 28 institutions in the Florida College System (700,000 students annually), and numerous private universities. The total varies depending on whether you count community colleges, vocational schools, and specialized institutions.

Bright Futures is Florida's merit-based scholarship program. Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) receive 100% tuition + $300 with 3.5 weighted GPA and 75 volunteer hours. Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) receive 75% tuition with 3.0 weighted GPA and 100 service/work hours. Requirements: Florida resident, standard diploma, complete FFAA by 8/31 graduation year, test scores (SAT Reading 490+, Math 480+ or ACT English 17, Reading 19, Math 19), no felony conviction.

Florida has the LOWEST in-state tuition in the entire country with average $4,836/year (national average $9,118). This is due to strong state support for public higher education, efficient Florida College System with 28 colleges serving 700,000 students, and state commitment to educational accessibility. Out-of-state tuition ($13,841 avg) is also well below national average ($25,859).

University of Central Florida (UCF) is the largest with 69,818 students (59,649 undergraduate) - not only largest in Florida but second-largest in the entire United States by enrollment. Founded in 1963 with initial enrollment of 1,948 students, UCF now enrolls students from 142 countries and all 50 states. Other large universities: University of Florida (54,814), FIU (53,953), USF (50,000+), FSU (44,308).

NO - most Florida public universities now REQUIRE SAT/ACT scores for 2024-2025 admissions. UF, FSU, FIU, USF, and all State University System schools require testing. UF no longer requires ACT Science section - only Reading, English, Mathematics. University of Miami is test-optional for Spring/Fall 2025 but will require testing starting Fall 2026. Some private colleges remain test-optional.

Florida Prepaid (established 1987) is the nation's most extensive prepaid tuition program. Families lock in future cost of tuition and fees at Florida public institutions, backed by State of Florida guarantee. Beneficiaries classified as Florida residents for tuition even if moved out of state. Combines with Bright Futures and other aid. Does NOT affect eligibility for state financial aid programs. Also available: Florida Investment 529 Savings Plan with tax-free growth and withdrawals for qualified expenses.

University of Florida has the #20 nationally ranked engineering program. Strong engineering programs also at FSU and University of Miami. Students can pursue civil, mechanical, electrical, biomedical, industrial, computer, and aerospace engineering. Florida's engineering colleges prepare next generation as demand for skilled engineers grows across industries.

UF Online offers 24 fully online four-year degrees (same accredited degrees as on-campus) plus 40+ master's and 7 doctorate programs. FSU Distance offers Computer Science, Financial Planning, Criminology. FIU Online has 40 bachelor's + 32 master's programs. FGCU Online offers accredited courses and degrees. State University System collectively offers hundreds of degree programs through Florida Virtual Campus (FloridaShines website). All programs taught by same faculty as on-campus.

Florida International University (FIU) is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) with 64% Hispanic/Latino student population (53,953 total students). FIU ranked #1 U.S. institution awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanic students and received Seal of Excelencia. Located in Miami, FIU is a leading producer of Hispanic bachelor's and master's degrees and is designated by U.S. Department of Education as HSI.

UF has 24% acceptance rate (15,707 admitted / 65,375 applied). Ranked #30 National Universities and #7 Top Public Schools. Middle 50% SAT scores: 1300-1480. Student-faculty ratio 16:1. Four-year graduation rate 83%. UF requires SAT/ACT scores (no longer test-optional). In-state tuition $6,381, out-of-state $30,886. UF is highly selective and Florida's flagship public university.
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Last updated on November 24, 2025