by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Florida, narrowing things down is no easy task. We have ranked **64** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 64 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.
Explore the leading colleges below:
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Florida. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $58,388. Typical student debt is $17,669.
Florida State University came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Florida. This public school is set in Tallahassee, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,884. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at University Of Miami, which ranked #3 this year. Located 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%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. University Of Miami graduates report median early-career earnings of $57,234. Typical student debt is $17,750.
Out of the 64 colleges in Florida in this year's ranking, University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #4 spot. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school based in Tampa, FL. About 77% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $21,829 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at University Of Florida Online, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. About 75% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,876, while out-of-state students pay about $16,579. Median early-career earnings reach $43,822. Students borrow a median of $17,779 to complete a degree here.
University Of Central Florida ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. University Of Central Florida is a public school based in Orlando, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 78%. Students from in state pay about $6,368 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. University Of Central Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,790. University Of Central Florida students take on a median of $21,620 in debt.
University Of North Florida landed the #7 spot in Florida this year. This public school is set in Jacksonville, FL. University Of North Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 65%. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. University Of North Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,208. Students borrow a median of $18,523 to complete a degree here.
Florida International University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. Florida International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,517. Florida International University students take on a median of $19,349 in debt.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach did well this year, earning the #9 position. Set in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,074. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,246 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,845.
Florida Polytechnic University placed #10 among the best colleges in Florida. This public school is set 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, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. Early-career graduates earn a median of $64,823. The median student debt is $7,500.
The University Of Tampa came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Based in Tampa, FL, The University Of Tampa is a private not-for-profit institution. The University Of Tampa graduates 64% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,408. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,401 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $25,191 in student loans.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Fort Myers, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,118, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,726. Typical student debt is $20,015.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida placed #13 among the best colleges in Florida. Based in Jacksonville, FL, Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $20,680. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $83,188. Students borrow a median of $39,146 to complete a degree here.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Florida Atlantic University is a public school based in Boca Raton, FL. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,879, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,340. The median student debt is $20,212.
Nova Southeastern University placed #15 among the best colleges in Florida. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Nova Southeastern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,700. Early-career graduates earn a median of $70,595. The median student debt is $25,021.
Jacksonville University landed the #16 spot in Florida this year. Set in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Jacksonville University graduates 51% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,150. Jacksonville University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,608. Graduates carry a median of $25,619 in student loans.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide did well this year, earning the #17 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. Roughly 23% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,097. Median early-career earnings reach $76,517. Students borrow a median of $20,787 to complete a degree here.
Ringling College Of Art And Design came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Sarasota, FL, Ringling College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit institution. Ringling College Of Art And Design graduates 72% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $57,900 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,417 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Florida Southern College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Lakeland, FL, Florida Southern College is a private not-for-profit institution. Florida Southern College posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,665. Typical student debt is $25,357.
Stetson University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Located in DeLand, FL, Stetson University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. 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.
West Coast University Miami ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Doral, FL, West Coast University Miami is a private for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,317. Median early-career earnings reach $95,859. The median student debt is $38,145.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences landed the #22 spot in Florida this year. Located in Orlando, FL, Adventist University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. Adventist University Of Health Sciences graduates 37% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,420 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $86,163. The median student debt is $28,333.
Rollins College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Based in Winter Park, FL, Rollins College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $60,580 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $40,403. The median student debt is $26,203.
The University Of West Florida came in at #24 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Pensacola, FL. The University Of West Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, compared with $18,658 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,141. The University Of West Florida students take on a median of $19,677 in debt.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach placed #25 among the best colleges in Florida. Located in West Palm Beach, FL, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $40,650. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach graduates report median early-career earnings of $54,317. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete a degree here.
These colleges rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.