by our College Data Analytics Team
Unbiased Factual Guarantee
77Colleges
$48,689Avg Salary*
44%Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
There are lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Top Florida Colleges ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 77 colleges and universities across Florida to determine which were the best in terms of overall quality. Instead of depending on subjective information, we focus on over 20 objective factors to determine this ranking. These factors include such things as student-to-faculty ratio, average graduate earnings, and graduation rate.
See what other factors we include in our ranking methodology.
Custom Rankings
Since one ranking on its own is not enough to give you a complete understanding of your educational options, you can refine this list by location and field of study. We've also developed a number of other tools and rankings based on other factors. These other rankings highlight colleges that excel in other factors such as value or diversity as well as schools that excel in serving different groups of students such as veterans or returnings adults.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering!
Top Colleges in Florida
Learn more about these excellent schools below: 1 University of Florida Our analysis found University of Florida to be the best school for overall quality in Florida in this year’s ranking.Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 17,268 students in 2020-2021. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from UF make an average of $64,463 a year. Read full report on University of Florida 2 University of Miami Out of the 77 schools in Florida that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Miami landed the #2 spot on the list. U Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6,042 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates. The low student loan default rate of 1.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $67,362 during the early years of their career.. Full University of Miami Report 3 Florida State University You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, the large public school awarded 13,129 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. During the early years of their career, graduates from Florida State make an average of $53,449 a year. Read full report on Florida State University 4 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach. It ranked #4 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 1,551 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. During the early years of their career, graduates from Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach make an average of $77,768 a year. Read More… 5 Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5,884 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. During the early years of their career, graduates from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale make an average of $36,284 a year. Full Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale Report
Gainesville, Florida
Coral Gables, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
6
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Florida International University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #6.Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 18,483 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from FIU make an average of $54,501 per year during the early years of their career.
Read More…
7
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
With a ranking of #7, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. UCF is a large public school situated in Orlando, Florida. It awarded 19,318 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $51,912 during the early years of their career..
Read full report on University of Central Florida
8
University of South Florida - Main Campus
Tampa, Florida
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Florida ranking. This large public school is located in Tampa, Florida, and it awarded 14,828 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from USF Tampa is $50,262 during the early years of their career.
Full University of South Florida - Main Campus Report
9
Rasmussen University - Florida
Ocala, Florida
Rasmussen University - Florida came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Florida ranking. Rasmussen University - Florida is a medium-sized private for-profit school located in Ocala, Florida that handed out 4,368 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Rasmussen University - Florida is $35,667 during the early years of their career.
Full Rasmussen University - Florida Report
10
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Nova Southeastern University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges in Florida list. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 6,062 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from NUS Florida go into careers with an average salary of $53,201 during the early years of their career.
Full Nova Southeastern University Report
11
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, Florida
Florida Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #11. Florida Tech is located in Melbourne, Florida and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2,070 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $63,704 during the early years of their career..
Read More…
12 Southeastern University Southeastern University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges in Florida list.Lakeland, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,595 students in 2020-2021. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from SEU make an average of $40,636 per year during the early years of their career. Read More… 13 Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, the large public school handed out 8,628 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% During the early years of their career, graduates from FAU make an average of $50,478 a year. Read More… 14 Valencia College With a ranking of #14, Valencia College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. Located in Orlando, Florida, the large public school awarded 18,199 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021. During the early years of their career, graduates from Valencia College make an average of $38,070 a year. Read More… 15 University of North Florida University of North Florida came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Florida ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the fairly large public school handed out 4,871 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,338 during the early years of their career.. Read More…
Lakeland, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
16
Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
With a ranking of #16, Broward College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. This large public school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 13,738 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from BC is $38,630 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Broward College
17 Florida State College at Jacksonville With a ranking of #17, Florida State College at Jacksonville did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the large public school awarded 9,256 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,819 during the early years of their career.. Full Florida State College at Jacksonville Report 18 Florida Polytechnic University Florida Polytechnic University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #18. Florida Poly is located in Lakeland, Florida and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 274 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates. Full Florida Polytechnic University Report 19 Hillsborough Community College Hillsborough Community College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking. Hillsborough Community College is a fairly large public school located in Tampa, Florida that handed out 6,012 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from HCC make an average of $37,367 per year during the early years of their career. Full Hillsborough Community College Report 20 Palm Beach State College Palm Beach State College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #20. Palm Beach State College is a large public school situated in Lake Worth, Florida. It awarded 7,049 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Palm Beach State College make an average of $38,834 per year during the early years of their career. Read full report on Palm Beach State College
Jacksonville, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
21
Barry University
Miami, Florida
Barry University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges in Florida ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 1,957 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from Barry University go into careers with an average salary of $53,436 during the early years of their career.
Full Barry University Report
22 Rollins College Rollins College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Winter Park, Florida, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 848 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021. The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1% Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Rollins make an average of $53,363 per year during the early years of their career. Full Rollins College Report 23 Miami Dade College Miami Dade College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #23.Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 17,521 students in 2020-2021. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from MDC make an average of $37,653 per year during the early years of their career. Read More… 24 Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee Community College landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking. This fairly large public school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 3,119 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021. Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,349 during the early years of their career.. Read More… 25 Florida Gulf Coast University Florida Gulf Coast University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges in Florida ranking, coming in at #25. FGCU is located in Fort Myers, Florida and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,631 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergradutates. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1% Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from FGCU go into careers with an average salary of $49,984 during the early years of their career. Read More…
Winter Park, Florida
Miami, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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