Best colleges in Florida

The University of Florida is a public institution that was founded in 1853 in the suburban college town of Gainesville, Florida. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 35,000 students, all of whom attend classes on a campus that covers over 3 square miles. UF is on a semester-based academic calendar with tuition and fees for in-state students at almost a quarter of the cost that out-of-state students pay. 

The University of Florida is made up of 16 colleges and over 200 graduate programs, including competitive engineering, marketing, and education programs. It is a public, nonprofit institution that was founded by James Henry Roper, who donated private land to build the school. The school is known for hosting the largest student-run newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator, and for the invention of Gatorade at the College of Medicine. 

The University of Florida has a rich student athletic history, championed by John J. Tigert through the development of the first grant-based aid for student-athletes. Beyond academics, the University of Florida athletic teams compete in the SEC, with an annual football rivalry with the University of Georgia. Students at UF enjoy an eclectic array of restaurants and nightlife in Gainesville and get to watch exciting football games every Saturday. Notable alumni include former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, American songwriter Stephen Stills, and sports broadcaster Cris Collinsworth.

The University of Miami, also known as The U, is a private institution that was founded in 1925. Located in suburban Coral Gables just south of downtown Miami, Florida, The U has over 140 departments and 12 different academic colleges with an emphasis on research activity. The University of Miami is known for its tropical campus setting and modern architecture that is quintessential to South Florida. 

The University of Miami boasts a range of reputable academic programs in the fields of medicine and atmospheric science, and their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Coast provides an excellent learning environment for those interested in studying oceanography. The graduation rate at The U is an impressive 81.4%, thanks in part to a low student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. The U has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 18,000 students that take classes according to a semester-based academic calendar. Prospective students should note that Florida residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state. 

Outside of academics, the University of Miami athletic teams, represented by their campus mascot Sebastian the Ibis and known internationally as the Hurricanes, compete in the ACC with an annual football rivalry with the Florida State Seminoles. Notable alumni include former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, singer Gloria Estefan, and the face of the Rocky series, Sylvester Stallone.

Located in Tampa, Florida the University of South Florida, or USF, is a public institution that was founded in 1956. The total undergraduate enrollment for the class of 2021 was just under 50,000, making it one of the largest schools in the state. USF is in an urban setting on a campus that takes up over 1,600 acres with over 200 academic buildings that host classes, labs, and administrative offices. Students at USF take classes on a semester-based academic calendar, and tuition for in-state students is roughly a third of the cost that out-of-state students pay, making it a very attractive option for Florida residents. USF offers large undergraduate classes and provides a range of benefits to student veterans, an important aspect of school for former military members that are interested in getting a degree. 

USF students enjoy an array of on-campus activities including outdoor pools, over 100 student clubs, and a tropical campus with palms, idyllic brick walkways, and hanging Spanish moss. The university operates on an annual budget of over $2 billion and an endowment of approximately $690 million, making it one of the wealthiest schools in the state. USF honors its founding principles with the school crest, which symbolizes life, learning, broadened perspectives, and truth. 

Students at USF have a range of academic and career paths to explore, including over 80 bachelor’s and 100 master’s programs. Some top colleges within USF include the Morsani College of Medicine, the Muma College of Business, and the Patel College of Global Sustainability. Notable alumni include wrestler Hulk Hogan, baseball coach Tony La Russa, and news correspondent Kerry Sanders.

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research institution that was founded in 1963 in Orange County, Florida with an undergraduate enrollment of roughly 70,000. Founded by the Florida Legislature as Florida Technological University with a mission to prepare students to enter the growing workforce within the U.S. Space Program, UCF has since expanded to provide a range of science and fine arts programs. 

The university is in a suburban setting with a campus located just west of Cape Canaveral, and classes follow a semester-based academic calendar. The current student-faculty ratio at UCF is 30:1, which is typical for a large state institution. The University of Central Florida’s tuition and fees for in-state students are about a quarter the cost of those for out-of-state students, and the school has a diverse student body with representation from over 150 different countries around the world.

Located in Orlando, Florida, the University of Central Florida is made up of 13 colleges with competitive hospitality, media studies, and medical programs. UCF has one of the largest student bodies of any public institution in the United States with nearly 72,000 students enrolled. Beyond academics, UCF’s Knight athletic teams compete in the American Athletic Conference, with an annual football rivalry with the University of South Florida Bulls. On-campus residential housing is an integral part of student life, where undergraduates enjoy a diverse student population and a large Greek system. Notable alumni include comedian Daniel Tosh of Tosh.0 and DJ Diplo.

Florida International University is a public university that was founded in 1965 in Miami, Florida. With over 190 academic programs and 11 separate colleges including competitive business, medicine, and law schools, FIU is the largest university in South Florida. 

FIU boasts a 72.3% graduation rate and a student-to-faculty ratio of 25:1 which means larger lecture-style classes. FIU was the first public university in Miami and was founded with the help of Ernest Graham, who proposed the establishment of the school initially in 1943 and later in 1964. Beyond academics, FIU’s athletic teams, represented by their campus mascot Roary the Panther, compete in the FBS with an annual football rivalry with Florida Atlantic University in the Shula Bowl. 

FIU has a total undergraduate enrollment of around 50,000 students, and the school uses a semester-based system. Prospective students should note that Florida residents receive in-state tuition at a much lower rate than applicants from out-of-state. The university has a modern campus with impressive buildings like the Frost Art Museum and the Wertheim Performing Arts Center. Notable alumni include actor Andy Garcia, Boston Redsock’s third baseman Mike Lowell, and poet Richard Blanco.