Great weather and colleges at reasonable prices make Florida every student’s dream.
With sunny skies and warm weather almost year-round, Florida’s college campuses are exceptionally beautiful and full of active students. From community colleges with great credentials to a number of different public research universities, there’s a college for everyone in the Sunshine State.
Members of both the Backstreet Boys and *NSync attended the Valencia Community College music department.
10. Nova Southeastern University
Type of College: Private
Enrollment: 28,457
Cost: $23,850
Best Programs: Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Biology, Psychology
Fun Fact: Nova Southeastern University’s College of Allied Health and Sciences is the top producer of physician assistants and the law school was ranked seventh best in the nation for minorities.
9. Florida Atlantic University
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 29,290
Cost: In-state: $200 per credit, Out-of-state: $718 per credit
Best Programs: Business and Marketing, Education, Social Sciences. Florida Atlantic University also has centers of excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology and Ocean Energy Technology.
Fun Fact: In 2010, it was designated as one of three centers for ocean energy research and development by the U.S. Department of Energy.
8. Broward College
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 31,730
Cost: In-state: $104 per credit, Out-of-state: $359 per credit
Best Programs: Nursing, Information Technology, Education
Fun Fact: Rock musician Marilyn Manson attended Broward College.
7. Valencia Community College
Type of College: Community college
Enrollment: 35,351
Cost: In-state: $2,377, Out-of-state: $9,005
Best Programs: Film Production, Music
Fun Fact: Members of both the Backstreet Boys and *NSync attended the Valencia Community College music department.
6. Florida State University
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 41,710
Cost: In-state: $6,403, Out-of-state: $21,569
Best Programs: Business and Marketing, Social Sciences, Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences
Fun Fact: Notable alumni of Florida State University include Burt Reynolds, members of the New York Yankees and over twenty current and former generals and admirals in the U.S. military.
5. University of South Florida
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 47,122
Cost: In-state: $155 per credit, Out-of-state: $486 per credit
Best Programs: Business and Marketing, Social Sciences, Biology, and Psychology
Fun Fact: The University of South Florida is a public university with a focus on research, and is ranked ninth in the world among universities for number of U.S. patents granted. USF is one of the country’s top research centers in Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
4. Florida International University
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 47,966
Cost: In-state: $202 per credit, Out-of-state: $615 per credit
Best Programs: Business, Psychology, Social Sciences, and Education
Fun fact: The Florida International University Drumline takes part in parades, commercials, TV shows and even appeared in a Nelly music video in 2011.
3. University of Florida
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 49,589
Cost: In-state: $6,170, Out-of-state: $28,448
Best Programs: Biological Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, and Industrial Engineering
Fun Fact: The University of Florida Gators have won three NCAA Football BCS National Championships.
2. University of Central Florida
Type of College: Public
Enrollment: 58,698
Cost: In-state: $208 per credit, Out-of-state: $745 per credit
Best Programs: Engineering, Computer Science, Education, Speech Pathology, and Public Administration
Fun Fact: University of Central Florida is located only 35 miles away from the Kennedy Space Center and originally opened to provide support personnel for the shuttle launch site.
1. Miami Dade College
Type of College: Community college
Enrollment: Over 174,000 students over eight campuses
Cost: Two-year In-state: $83 per credit, Two-year Out-of-state: $331 per credit; Four-year In-state: $92 per credit, Four-year Out-of-state: $449 per credit.
Best Programs: Education, Security and Protective Services, and Health Professions
Fun fact: Several Major League Baseball players including former catcher Mike Piazza graduated from Miami Dade College.
Quick Facts:
- Florida is a hotbed for college football with six of the colleges listed playing in NCAA D-I.
- Government work, real estate, agriculture, mining and military are all top industries in Florida for those looking for employment.
- Florida does not impose a personal income tax on residents.