Top Universities in Florida

When thinking of Florida, many people envision sunny weather, sandy beaches, cruise ships, theme parks, and snowbird retirement communities. But on this page, we’ll show you some Florida Career College reviews.

The sunshine is excelling in college and university education. Many students looking for southern charm, warm weather year-round, and a top-notch academic education find it here all in one place.

Finding the best school for your post-secondary education may be a complicated process and lots of students find it hard to determine what school will make their college experience unforgettable.

Location is just one factor when it comes to deciding what college to attend. There are, of course, more factors that play a key role such as popularity, selectivity, student satisfaction, sports opportunities, and of course, the cost of tuition, fees, and room & board.

Choosing the perfect college for you is a very personal thing and all schools have something special or different to offer when you consider the reputation, quality, cost, or academic options. We hope this overview will help you al little bit when you’re trying to decide which school may suit your ambitions and wishes best.

So let’s see when we take all these elements into account, which Florida colleges and universities are offering the best deal. We understand this may be somewhat arbitrary as it reflects merely our subjective impressions, but see what we took into account.

First, we looked at the overall price including tuition and fees, room and board, financial aid and scholarship availability, and living expenses.
Then we considered the schools’ graduation rates. We looked at how many students completed their degree within a typical 4-year degree program. Schools that score well here, usually keep students engaged to ensure academic success.

After that, we looked at the schools’ acceptance rates. The fact of the matter is that popular, academically challenging universities and colleges are more selective and therefore will have lower acceptance rates. The fact of the matter is that some colleges in Florida are very hard to get into.

Then, we also considered the average ROI (return on investment) meaning we looked at the earnings level that students may expect upon graduation from a particular university or college in relation to the total tuition amount paid.

Here are a few great suggestions, in our opinion the 10 Best Buy Options for students looking to continue their challenging academic education in the Sunshine State:

1. Nova Southeastern University
3301 College Avenue | Fort Lauderdale | FL 33314 | Phone: (800) 541.6682
Annual Tuition: $30,900. Acceptance rate: 78.5%
Nova Southeastern University offers over 140 undergraduate degree programs with highly respected research opportunities in academic fields such as oceanography, medicine, oncology, dentistry, psychology, and autism studies, just to mention a few.

Few affordable universities can match the opportunities the school offers to students. The school has the finest technology and research facilities instruction is all done by expert faculty, not by teaching assistants. This really is one of the best deals students can get in Florida.

2. Florida Atlantic University
777 Glades Road | Boca Raton | FL 33431 | Phone: (561) 297.3000
Annual Tuition: $4,831 (in-state); $17,276 (out-of-state). Acceptance Rate: 59.3%
Florida Atlantic University became Southeast Florida’s first public university in 1964. Over the past years, the school has evolved from a minuscule research institution into one of the best-respected universities in Florida.

Florida Atlantic University counts 30,000 undergraduate students and is affiliated with a number of major research institutions. FAU is among the most culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse schools in the Public University System of Florida that draws in students from across the state and the nation. Read more about the Florida College System here.

3. Florida Gulf Coast University-Fort Myers
10501 FGCU Boulevard S | Fort Myers | FL 33965 | Phone: (239) 590.1000
Annual Tuition: $6,118 (in-state); $25,162 (out-of-state). Acceptance Rate: 64.9%
Florida Gulf Coast University is one of the best academic institutions in South Florida, offering more than 50 different academic degree programs. Throughout its courses, three core values play a key role: sustainability, service, and academic excellence.

The school boasts a 400-acres nature preservation area and has developed lakes for the promotion and research of local ecology and also has a large solar field that helped reduce the school’s reliance on the power grid considerably. The school’s students are also devoting some 200,000 service hours annually to support the community.

4. Eckerd College
4200 54th Avenue | St. Petersburg | FL 33711 | Phone: (800) 456.9009
Annual tuition: $44,540. Acceptance Rate: 68%
Eckerd College is a popular liberal arts college situated on Florida’s Gulf Coast waterfront. The school combines innovative research opportunities with a rigorous liberal arts education in humanistic traditions.

Eckerd College’s graduation rate is around 70% graduation rate, the ROI is considerable, and students can enjoy kayaking, fishing, sailing, or waterskiing through the school’s Waterfront Program.

5. Saint Leo University
33701 State Road 52 | Saint Leo | FL 33574 | Phone: (352) 588.8200
Annual Tuition: $23,020. Acceptance Rate: 60.3%
Saint Leo University is the oldest and among the best universities in Florida. The school is a Catholic university founded in the liberal arts, science, and humanities traditions and gives students a strong foundation for knowledge and faith.

Students choose from numerous majors ranging from Marketing to Social Work and Biology. The school is known for its low tuition, rigorous coursework, and committed faculty.

6. The University of Tampa
401 W Kennedy Boulevard | Tampa | FL 33606 | Phone: (813) 253.3333
Annual Tuition: $29,208. Acceptance Rate: 48.7%
The University of Tampa offers over 200 academic degree programs and students have more than 1,000 internship options to choose from. Impressive, right? Students can choose from degree programs in Entrepreneurship, Aerospace Studies, or Cybersecurity, just to mention a few.

There are no teaching assistants here, all instruction is done by distinguished faculty that put teaching first and research work second. The school maintains a 17:1 student-faculty ratio so a great learning experience is guaranteed.

7. Trinity Baptist College
800 Hammond Boulevard | Jacksonville | FL 32221 | Phone: (904) 596.2451
Annual Tuition: $12,140. Acceptance Rate: 96.6%
Trinity Baptist College is among the most affordable colleges in Florida. The school students a spiritual education with programs that range from Biblical Studies to Education, Music, and Business.

Trinity Baptist College offers challenging and rigorous degree programs and is known for LifeSong, the school’s traveling devotional music ensemble. The school is located right in the heart of Jacksonville, Florida’s largest city, close to the most pristine beaches. At almost 100 percent, Trinity Baptist College is among the easier Florida schools to get accepted into.

8. Jacksonville University
2800 University Boulevard N | Jacksonville | FL 32211 | Phone: (904) 256.8000
Annual Tuition: $36,670. Acceptance Rate: 89.9%
Jacksonville University is a liberal arts college known for its small class sizes and personalized career and wellness resources. The school offers a multitude of academic and professional programs and combines the advantages of a liberal arts university with those of a comprehensive university in an urban setting.

Jacksonville University offers degree programs in education, nursing, and business, as well as a highly respected aviation program, in partnership with Aerosim Flight Academy, and a Naval Reserve Officer Training program, actually the second-largest in the U.S. The school boasts NCAA Division I athletics, up-to-date apartment-like residence halls, and the renown Swisher Theater.

9. Rollins College
1000 Holt Avenue | Winter Park | FL 32789 | Phone: (407) 646.2000
Annual Tuition: $49,760. Acceptance Rate: 66.6
Rollins College, Florida’s oldest post-secondary educational institution, is steeped in intellectual heritage and academic tradition. The school is a liberal arts college offering academic degree programs in disciplines as economics, anthropology, and theater studies.

The school traditionally ranks as one of Florida’s best colleges and boasts a stunningly beautiful campus on the banks of Lake Virginia.

10. Southeastern University
1000 Longfellow Boulevard | Lakeland | FL 33801 | Phone: (863) 667.5000
Annual Tuition: $25,870. Acceptance rate: 48.1%
Southeastern University is a relatively small Christian university that offers very affordable academic degree programs to students of faith. The school boasts over 45 majors ranging from Business and Legal Studies to Behavioral and Social Sciences, and Christian Ministry programs.

The school is rooted in strong Christian traditions and values that address servant leadership in church communities, business, and the academic world.