2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida
When pursuing a degree in today's world, veterans have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking is part of that endeavor.
Our analysis looked at 88 schools in Florida to determine which ones were the best for veterans and active service men and women. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including the school's overall quality, the number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and the percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
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Top Colleges for Veterans in Florida
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our 2021 rankings named University of Florida the best school in Florida for veterans working on their bachelor’s degree. University of Florida is a large public school located in Gainesville, Florida that handed out 15,815 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 53,372 students enrolled at UF, 1,109 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 752 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,193. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. In addition to its best for vets ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, UF is ranked #1 for overall quality in Florida.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Florida State University. It ranked #2 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, the large public school handed out 13,051 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 986 of the 43,569 students enrolled at Florida State were GI Bill® students, of which 582 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,897. To help with additional expenses, 20 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Florida State does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Florida State also is in the top 10% of our Best Schools in Florida ranking.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Florida International University. The school came in at #3 in Florida on this year’s best for vets ranking. Located in Miami, Florida, the large public school awarded 17,230 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, FIU supports 58,836 students, and 1,099 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 646 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,649. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, FIU also did well on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of South Florida - Main Campus helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in Florida. USF Tampa is a large public school situated in Tampa, Florida. It awarded 14,845 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 50,626 students enrolled at USF Tampa, 2,349 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,482 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,646. In addition to receiving other benefits, 14 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. USF Tampa does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. In addition to its great veterans ranking, USF Tampa is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in Florida list.
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at University of Central Florida helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for veterans in Florida. UCF is located in Orlando, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17,813 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Among the 71,881 students enrolled at UCF, 2,247 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,137 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,197. To help with additional expenses, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. As a testament to the quality of education it offers, UCF also is in the top 15% of our Best Schools in Florida ranking.
University of North Florida landed the #6 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 4,587 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UNF supports 16,926 students, and 1,093 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 864 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,651. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #7, The University of West Florida did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. UWF is located in Pensacola, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4,326 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Among the 13,061 students enrolled at UWF, 1,430 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 914 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,237. To help with additional expenses, 11 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UWF does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Florida Atlantic University landed the #8 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Located in Boca Raton, Florida, the large public school handed out 8,088 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 30,805 students enrolled at FAU, 722 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 506 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,787. FAU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Florida State College at Jacksonville came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Florida State College at Jacksonville is a large public school located in Jacksonville, Florida that handed out 2,772 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, FSCJ supports 22,344 students, and 2,355 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 2,257 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,047. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
University of Miami landed the #10 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in Coral Gables, Florida, and it awarded 5,823 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 17,809 students enrolled at U Miami, 398 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 303 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,282. To help with additional expenses, 180 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. U Miami does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, U Miami also did well on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Saint Leo University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Located in Saint Leo, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 3,510 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 756 of the 9,832 students enrolled at St. Leo University were GI Bill® students, of which 593 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $7,438. To help with additional expenses, 16 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
With a ranking of #12, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the large private not-for-profit school awarded 5,246 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Of the 20,330 students enrolled at Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale, 1,065 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 806 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,949. To help with additional expenses, 203 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
With a ranking of #13, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 1,425 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach supports 8,797 students, and 731 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 588 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $19,816. To help with additional expenses, 359 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Report
With a ranking of #14, St Petersburg College did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. This large public school is located in Clearwater, Florida, and it awarded 5,178 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 1,481 of the 26,430 students enrolled at SPC were GI Bill® students, of which 1,077 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,263. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Florida Gulf Coast University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Fort Myers, Florida is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 3,593 students in 2019-2020.
Among the 15,358 students enrolled at FGCU, 339 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 231 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,398. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Jacksonville University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Jacksonville University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Jacksonville, Florida that handed out 1,319 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 4,053 students enrolled at JU, 482 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 342 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $14,052. On top of their other funding sources, 140 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
Stetson University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Stetson is a small private not-for-profit school situated in DeLand, Florida. It awarded 1,196 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Stetson supports 4,462 students, and 249 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 235 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $12,425. During this same period, 13 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee landed the #18 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Santa Fe College landed the #19 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Located in Gainesville, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 2,922 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 12,607 students enrolled at Santa Fe College, 650 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 387 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,132. Santa Fe College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
On top of its placing in our veterans ranking, Santa Fe College also did well on our Best Schools in Florida list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools reviewed in this analysis.
Nova Southeastern University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking, coming in at #20. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 5,837 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, NUS Florida supports 20,888 students, and 562 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 456 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $13,840. In addition to receiving other benefits, 93 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Broward College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Broward College is a large public school located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that handed out 7,106 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 33,243 students enrolled at BC, 1,250 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 903 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,512. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
BC also made our Best Schools in Florida list, coming in at #3.
Barry University ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 2,084 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 7,515 students enrolled at Barry University, 520 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 495 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,904. During this same period, 11 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
With a ranking of #23, The University of Tampa did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida list. Located in Tampa, Florida, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,369 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 504 of the 9,605 students enrolled at UT were GI Bill® students, of which 436 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $16,003. In addition to receiving other benefits, 97 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. UT does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Daytona State College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking. Daytona State College is located in Daytona Beach, Florida and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2,951 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
According to our most recent data, Daytona State College supports 12,728 students, and 753 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 514 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,133. Daytona State College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Hillsborough Community College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Florida ranking, coming in at #25. Located in Tampa, Florida, the fairly large public school awarded 4,060 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Among the 19,532 students enrolled at HCC, 1,816 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1,349 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,238. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
HCC also made our Best Schools in Florida list, coming in at #2.
Best Colleges for Veterans in the Southeast Region
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Best Colleges in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 25 schools only.
**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
- Removed schools reflect instances of new data identified post-publication that warrant removal of a school from this year’s ranking.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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