by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Florida, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **70** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 70 colleges using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Learn more about these excellent colleges below:
Our analysis found University Of Florida to be the best college in Florida. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,669.
The strong outcomes at Florida State University earned it the #2 place in Florida. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Florida State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete a degree here.
University Of Miami came in at #3 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Florida. Set in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of Miami posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Students from in state pay about $62,616 in tuition and fees. University Of Miami graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,234. University Of Miami students take on a median of $17,750 in debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Florida. This public school is set in Tampa, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,885. Students borrow a median of $21,829 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of Florida Online, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida Online is a public institution. University Of Florida Online posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,822. Typical student debt is $17,779.
University Of Central Florida placed #6 among the best colleges in Florida. Located in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. University Of Central Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 78%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. University Of Central Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,790. Graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
Florida Polytechnic University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Florida Polytechnic University is a public school based in Lakeland, FL. Florida Polytechnic University posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,940, compared with $21,004 for out-of-state students. Florida Polytechnic University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,823. Typical student debt is $7,500.
University Of North Florida placed #8 among the best colleges in Florida. This public school is set in Jacksonville, FL. About 65% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. Median early-career earnings reach $49,208. University Of North Florida students take on a median of $18,523 in debt.
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,517. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tampa did well this year, earning the #10 position. Located in Tampa, FL, The University Of Tampa is a private not-for-profit institution. The University Of Tampa posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,408. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,401. Typical student debt is $25,191.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates 66% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,074. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,246. The median student debt is $22,845.
Nova Southeastern University came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Set in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Nova Southeastern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,700. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,595. Nova Southeastern University students take on a median of $25,021 in debt.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Jacksonville, FL, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida is a private for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,680. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $83,188. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Florida Gulf Coast University placed #14 among the best colleges in Florida. This public school is set in Fort Myers, FL. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates 57% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,726. Florida Gulf Coast University students take on a median of $20,015 in debt.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Florida Atlantic University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Florida Atlantic University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,340. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete a degree here.
Ringling College Of Art And Design ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private not-for-profit school is set in Sarasota, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Students from in state pay about $57,900 in tuition and fees. Ringling College Of Art And Design graduates report median early-career earnings of $27,417. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Jacksonville University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville University graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,608. Jacksonville University students take on a median of $25,619 in debt.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide landed the #18 spot in Florida this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide posts a six-year graduation rate of 23%. Students from in state pay about $12,097 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,517. Graduates carry a median of $20,787 in student loans.
Stetson University landed the #19 spot in Florida this year. Stetson University is a private not-for-profit school based in DeLand, FL. Stetson University graduates 62% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Stetson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,839. Typical student debt is $25,382.
Rollins College did well this year, earning the #20 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Winter Park, FL. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $60,580. Early-career graduates earn a median of $40,403. Rollins College students take on a median of $26,203 in debt.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences landed the #21 spot in Florida this year. Set in Orlando, FL, Adventist University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $21,420 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $86,163. Typical student debt is $28,333.
Florida Southern College did well this year, earning the #22 position. Florida Southern College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lakeland, FL. About 70% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,665. Florida Southern College students take on a median of $25,357 in debt.
The University Of West Florida did well this year, earning the #23 position. The University Of West Florida is a public school based in Pensacola, FL. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. The University Of West Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,141. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete a degree here.
West Coast University Miami ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This private for-profit school is set in Doral, FL. West Coast University Miami posts a six-year graduation rate of 33%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,317. Graduates go on to earn a median of $95,859 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $38,145 in student loans.
Florida Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #25 position. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,878. Graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Colleges are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.