Most Selective Florida Colleges

Florida has 12 four-year colleges that accept 50% or fewer of applicants, ranked from most to least selective.

University of Miami is the hardest to get into in Florida, accepting just 19% of 53,954 applicants. Also highly selective: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida State University and University of Florida.

Selectivity does not always equal academic difficulty. Some schools admit a small share of applicants because demand exceeds capacity, not because admission standards are extreme. If you need safety schools, see our highest acceptance rate colleges in Florida. For academically demanding options, explore colleges with the highest SAT, highest ACT, and highest GPA averages.

12 Results
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Florida Low Acceptance % Public Private 4 Year

  • Private 4 Year
  • Coral Gables, FL
  • 4.0 | 14 reviews
  • 19% acceptance rate
  • 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
  • Net Price $45,397
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 3 reviews
  • 21% acceptance rate
  • May 1 application deadline

FAMU is a public HBCU known for undergraduate pharmacy, business, and engineering. The campus is located in Florida's capital city of Tallahassee.

#10 Best Public Universities in Florida 4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1030-1180
  • Avg GPA 3.65
  • Net Price $13,819
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • 24% acceptance rate
  • 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
  • Net Price $15,815
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Gainesville, FL
  • 4.5 | 6 reviews
  • 24% acceptance rate
  • 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.

#7 Best Public Universities in America 9/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1320-1480
  • Avg GPA 3.9
  • Net Price $11,936
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Graceville, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • 36% acceptance rate
  • Aug 15 application deadline

Baptist University of Florida is a small private Baptist university known for undergraduate ministry, biblical studies, and music. The residential campus sits in the rural panhandle town of Graceville.

5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 930-1200
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.08
  • Net Price $15,753
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • 4.2 | 6 reviews
  • 40% acceptance rate
  • 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.

#4 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1200-1350
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Net Price $13,351
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 2.5 | 13 reviews
  • 40% acceptance rate

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
  • Net Price $35,679
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Ave Maria, FL
  • 3.0 | 2 reviews
  • 41% acceptance rate

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
  • Net Price $25,294
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • 43% acceptance rate
  • 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.

#3 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1130-1320
  • Predicted Avg GPA 3.64
  • Net Price $11,579
Details
Warner University Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Lake Wales, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • 43% acceptance rate

Warner is a private Christian university known for undergraduate ministry, education, and business. Most students live on the residential campus in Lake Wales.

4/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 790-1070
  • Avg GPA 3.22
  • Net Price $20,888
Details
Beacon College Campus
 

  • Private 4 Year
  • Leesburg, FL
  • 4.0 | 2 reviews
  • 43% acceptance rate

Beacon College is a small private college known for undergraduate programs designed for students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and related learning differences. The residential campus sits in Leesburg in central Florida.

0/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range -
  • Avg GPA 3.2
  • Net Price $46,997
Details

  • Private 4 Year
  • Winter Park, FL
  • | 0 reviews
  • 48% acceptance rate
  • 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
  • Net Price $39,201
Details