Best colleges in Miami

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.

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.