2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST UNIVERSITIES IN FLORIDA
Selecting One of the Best Universities in Florida for 2017
Making the decision regarding which school is right for you is a very personal decision. Some potential students prefer to find the largest university in Florida, while others are looking merely for the cheapest universities in Florida. Everyone has different goals in mind when it comes to their higher education.
Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Universities In Florida
So, how can you decide which schools are the best universities in Florida?
The top universities in Florida have a lot to offer to potential students, no matter what their priorities are. There are plenty of good universities in Florida that can make getting a good education worthwhile while allowing you to leave without being saddled with tremendous student loan debt.
Our Florida university rankings will help put prospective students at ease with their decisions. We’ll take a look at the academic programs offered, as well as the cost, to help you find the top Florida universities for your future.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Universities in Florida
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the schools below to go directly to the detailed review section for that Florida university):
- Florida International University
- Florida State University
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of Miami
- University of South Florida
Top 6 Best Universities in Florida | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Top Florida Universities | Enrollment | Tuition |
| Florida International University | 54,000 | $6,570.88 for in-state residents (30 credit hours) |
| Florida State University | 41,000 | $6,516 for in-state residents (30 credit hours) |
| University of Central Florida | 64,000 | $6,379 for in-state residents (30 credit hours) |
| University of Florida | 52,000 | $6,380 for in-state residents (full-time enrollment) |
| University of Miami | 11,000 | $47,040 for full-time enrollment |
| University of South Florida | 50,000 | $6,410 for in-state residents (30 credit hours) |
Table: Top 6 Best Florida Universities | Above list is sorted alphabetically
Is It Possible to Save Money While Going to School?
Many prospective students may feel like they need to shy away from the top Florida universities because of the price tag. While attending university may not be the least expensive thing you’ll ever do, you want to make sure that you’re enrolling for an education that will equip you for the future you want.
Are there any ways that you can save money while in college, besides just finding the cheapest universities in Florida?
Fortunately, plenty of students have walked this road before you, and they have advice for how to save a few dollars on your daily living and tuition. Some of the tips for saving money while in the top universities in Florida may be common sense, but those dollars can certainly add up over four years or more.
First, the most obvious place where you spend a tremendous amount of money is on your room and board. Even at the cheapest universities in Florida, you are likely to spend thousands of dollars on this each academic year. Consider opting for a less expensive dorm, which may mean taking on additional roommates, to keep your student loan debt down.
You should also consider purchasing a mini fridge for your dorm room as well. By keeping it well stocked with snacks and drinks, you’ll spend more of your money on tuition at these best universities in Florida and less on the vending machine.
Similarly, you may want to consider purchasing your own coffee machine to avoid paying for expensive caffeine fixes at Florida universities throughout the day. If you take us up on the first tip and get additional roommates, they could even chip in toward purchasing this equipment that you can all use communally.
Another great way to make sure that you don’t incur unnecessary debt during your time at the best universities in Florida is to carefully consider all credit card offers. Make sure to only spend what you can reasonably pay off during a given time period. Always read the fine print when it comes to interest rates, minimum payments, and maximum balances before agreeing to the terms of a particular credit card.
While you may still want to attend one of the cheapest universities in Florida, managing your expenses makes it easier to expand your horizons. Our Florida university rankings will give you a wide range of choices ranging from the largest university in Florida to some of the cheapest universities in Florida.
Whatever you hope to gain from the college experience can almost certainly be found from one of these universities in FL below.
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Universities in Florida
Below, please find the detailed review of each school on our list of top Florida universities. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these Florida universities to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Florida International University Review
Located in the bustling Miami city, Florida International University is easily one of the top universities in Florida. With excellent discounted tuition fees for in-state residents, Florida International University is one of the cheapest universities in Florida with an extensive academic offering as well.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
For a few of the reasons why prospective students may want to take a closer look at Florida International University, you can see the detailed breakdown on our ranking below.
Education
While many schools may tout just a handful of degree programs and study options, Florida International University leaves no option untouched. With more than 180 different programs of study, students will find exactly what they’re looking for at one of the best universities in Florida. These academic tracks encompass their undergraduate studies, master’s degree programs, and doctoral programs combined.
Students who are looking for good universities in Florida to give them flexible study options should also note that they have several fully online degree programs.
As of the spring 2016 semester, FIU had more than 54,000 students enrolled in their programs, making them a great contender for the largest university in Florida. Even with such a large student population, this pick among top Florida universities is able to maintain a 25 to one student-faculty ratio.
Tuition
Cost is definitely a top priority for considering any of the universities in FL. Luckily, Florida International University is easily considered one of the cheapest universities in Florida.
Students who already live in Florida and plan to attend one of the best Florida universities pay a much lower cost. Thirty credit hours of tuition, including all other fees, came to $6,570.88 for the 2016-2017 academic year. This makes Florida International University one of the cheapest universities in Florida for residents.
Out-of-state students will face higher rates for the same education, priced at $18,969.75.
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Florida State University Review
One of the most popular options among all of the universities in Florida, Florida State University is found in the capital city, Tallahassee. Ranked at number 38 on the list of top public universities, this school has great retention rates and graduation rates, which makes it one of the best universities in Florida.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
To find more information on their academic programs, enrollment rates, and tuition, you can see the review below.
Education
Most students who are interested in attending Florida universities are concerned with the quality of their education. At this pick for best Florida universities, you’ll find a 93% retention rate, with 79% of students reaching their graduation date. The academic programs span from undergraduate all the way through doctoral and specialist studies.
They also claim to be one of the best universities in Florida to study fine arts, including dance, film, music, and theater.
With the majority of students attending for undergraduate studies, there is a rather significant student population as well. While it may not be the largest university in Florida, it is definitely close to the top of the ranking with 41,000 students enrolled for their 2015 fall semester.
Equivalent to Florida International University, this university in FL also has a student-faculty ratio of 25 to one.
Tuition
While it may not be the largest university in Florida, this school is certainly a top competitor for a spot as one of the cheapest universities in Florida. You can see a glimpse of their tuition and fees in the listing below:
- In-state tuition and fees for the academic year (30 credit hours): $6,516
- Out-of-state tuition and fees for the academic year (30 credit hours): $21,683
- Housing: $6,550
- Most popular meal plan: $3,998
Image Source: Florida State University
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University of Central Florida Review
Found in the sunny city of Orlando, the University of Central Florida is quite possibly the largest university in Florida. Their large student population allows them to offer significantly more degree programs than some smaller schools on other rankings.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
Beyond the appeal of the sun-soaked city, what else does University of Central Florida have to offer prospective students? See why it made it onto our Florida university ranking in the comprehensive overview below.
Education
Academic offerings are one of the first points of consideration for prospective students, even if they’re ultimately just looking for the cheapest universities in Florida. The University of Central Florida doesn’t disappoint, with a rather lengthy list of degrees ranging from undergraduate to graduate studies.
Their thirteen different colleges represent more than 210 degree programs to create a highly personalized and specific education in your field of interest. Top majors include:
- Psychology
- Health sciences
- Bio-medical sciences
- Nursing
- Mechanical engineering
They are also potentially the largest university in Florida, with more than 64,000 students enrolled at last count. Their student-faculty ratio is higher than many of the other large Florida colleges and universities. Estimated to be around thirty to one, this is definitely one disadvantage to attending the largest university in Florida.
Tuition
Like the other Florida colleges and universities, the University of Central Florida splits tuition and fees into those for in-state students and out-of-state students. You can see the estimated costs for thirty credit hours below:
- In-state tuition and fees: $6,379
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $22,476
While the University of Central Florida is certainly a top choice for the cheapest universities in Florida, their high percentage of students who graduate debt-free is almost unbelievable. A high 44% of all students will graduate without student loan debt.
University of Florida Review
Prospective students love the atmosphere of the University of Florida, conveniently located in Gainesville, Florida. Holding the number fourteen spot on the 2014 U.S. News & World Report ranking of public universities and colleges, this pick among top Florida universities has a lot to boast about. Ranging from an extensive graduate degree offerings to being one of the cheapest universities in Florida, the University of Florida has something to offer everyone.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
For more of the detailed information on what makes the University of Florida one of the best universities in Florida, the detailed breakdown of their education and tuition is below.
Education
Education may not be as far-reaching as some of the other best universities in Florida, but it certainly has a lot to offer. Ranging from certificate completion to graduate programs, there are more than 330 areas to choose from. Unlike many of the universities in FL, this school has the majority of its selection in graduate programs (200 choices).
This is close to being the largest university in Florida with more than 52,000 students currently enrolled. According to one Florida university ranking, the student-faculty ratio is lower than some of our other top Florida universities. The University of Florida has an estimated ratio of twenty to one.
Close to half of the classes (48.6%) have twenty students or fewer.
Tuition
Compared to the other best Florida universities, the University of Florida has very reasonable tuition and fees for in-state students. It is one of the cheapest universities in Florida for this segment of the population but is very expensive for out-of-state residents.
The cost for the 2016-2017 academic year was $6,380 for in-state students. Out-of-state students were advised to add $22,278 to that figure ($28,658).
The University of Florida also boasts one of the most impressive rates when it comes to students who graduate without debt. Close to 56% of students will graduate without a single student loan to repay.
University of Miami Review
Boasting a high ranking on prestigious reviews of Florida colleges and universities, as well as those across the nation, the University of Miami is fairly impressive. They hold the 44th spot on the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list. In addition, they also maintain the 37th spot out of a ranking of over 1,000 national colleges and universities according to Wall Street Journal rankings.
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
What criteria allowed them to win such favored reviews on top rankings from national publications? The details that make the University of Miami one of the best universities in Florida are all listed in our full summary below.
Education
Academic programs of study span a number of topics and areas of research. While they do also offer graduate degrees, their primary offering is for undergraduate majors and experiences. Across eleven schools, prospective students can choose from over 180 degree programs at this top Florida university.
This won’t qualify as the largest university in Florida, even with enrollment that certainly surpasses some of the other top universities in Florida. Enrollment is estimated to be just over 11,000 students for undergraduate programs.
One of the major benefits of this low student population is the significantly lower student-faculty ratio. At just twelve to one, you have the opportunity for smaller class sizes and more personalized attention from faculty members and professors.
Tuition
Unlike many of the other contenders for the best Florida universities, the University of Miami does not give separate tuition fees for in-state and out-of-state residents. The only differences in cost will be based on where you intend to live during the academic year. See below for the breakdown of tuition and fees for full-time enrollment:
- Tuition: $47,040
- Fees: $1,444
- Housing and meal plan (on-campus): $13,666
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University of South Florida Review
The University of South Florida has a great location in the bright city of Tampa, Florida. Being one of the cheapest universities in Florida for both in-state and out-of-state students has really put this school on the map compared to other candidates. With plenty of academic pursuits possible at these Florida colleges and universities, prospective students will quickly find the right path to their desired career field.
Image Source: University of South Florida
Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Top Florida Universities
See below for more details on what made the academics and tuition rates qualify the University of South Florida as one of the best universities in Florida.
Education
Taking your education seriously will come naturally at this pick among best universities in Florida. The University of South Florida has more than 180 undergraduate programs from fourteen colleges in addition to other offerings. You can pursue graduate, specialist, and doctoral tracks (including a doctor of medicine program) as well.
The most popular programs, according to one survey of this pick of the best Florida universities, are:
- Psychology
- Nursing
- Biomedical sciences
- General studies
- Criminology
Representing a diverse student body, the University of South Florida has earned a spot close to the top of the ranking for being the largest university in Florida. Close to 50,000 students are enrolled at this choice among best universities in Florida, with students from over 130 countries.
While it is not the absolute largest university in Florida included on our ranking, it does have a fairly high student-faculty ratio. U.S. News & World Report places the estimated ratio at 24 to one.
Tuition
Is the University of South Florida one of the cheapest universities in Florida? It is fairly close, being within just a few hundred dollars of the other cheapest universities in Florida included on this ranking. It may be one of the cheapest universities in Florida for out-of-state students as well.
Undergraduate rates for students who live with their parents off-campus for thirty credit hours are as follows:
- In-state residents: $6,410
- Out-of-state residents: $17,324
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Conclusion—Top 6 Best Universities in Florida
Finding good universities in Florida isn’t terribly difficult, with plenty of options abounding regardless of your preferred area of study. Many of the schools included on our ranking of Florida universities will offer programs ranging from undergraduate studies to doctoral programs. The question really remains of exactly which topics you would like to study at these universities in Florida.
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Are you searching for the largest university in Florida? Do you prefer to find the cheapest universities in Florida?
There’s something available for every prospective student from these top Florida universities. All you need to do is fill out your application to get started on the path to future academic success.
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