Best Florida Colleges

Florida has 30 ranked four-year colleges, part of our national best colleges ranking. Rankings weigh admission scores, graduation rates, and selectivity using statistical data, not editorial picks.

Leading our 2027 rankings is University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, topping our list in Florida. The top rated public university is University of Florida. Also highly ranked: University of Florida, Florida State University and Rollins College.

Compare tuition, acceptance rates, and enrollment across the colleges below. See how rankings are calculated on our methodology page. Sort by tuition, acceptance rate, or enrollment to find the school that fits you.

30 Results
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Florida Public 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

  • Public 4 Year
  • Gainesville, FL
  • 4.5 | 6 reviews
  • 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
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $11,936
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • 5.0 | 6 reviews
  • 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
  • Acceptance Rate 24%
  • Net Price $15,815
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

  • Public 4 Year
  • Tampa, FL
  • 4.0 | 4 reviews
  • 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
  • Acceptance Rate 43%
  • Net Price $11,579
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Orlando, FL
  • 4.2 | 6 reviews
  • 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
  • Acceptance Rate 40%
  • Net Price $13,351
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

  • Public 4 Year
  • Jacksonville, FL
  • | 0 reviews

UNF is a public university known for undergraduate nursing, business, and coastal biology. The suburban Jacksonville campus includes lakes and a large nature preserve with trails.

#5 Best Public Universities in Florida 6/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1270
  • Avg GPA 3.89
  • Acceptance Rate 53%
  • Net Price $11,135
Details

  • Public 4 Year
  • Miami, FL
  • 4.1 | 7 reviews
  • Apr 1 application deadline

FIU is a large public university known for undergraduate hospitality management and international business. The urban campus in Miami has a large Hispanic student population and strong Latin American ties.

#6 Best Public Universities in Florida 5/10 Overall Rating
  • SAT Range 1070-1260
  • Avg GPA 4.0
  • Acceptance Rate 55%
  • Net Price $11,178
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