by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Florida, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights **27** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 27 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
University Of Florida earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Florida. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. University Of Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 91%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,388. Typical student debt is $17,669.
Out of the 27 graduate schools in Florida in this year's ranking, University Of Miami landed the #2 spot. Based in Coral Gables, FL, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Graduates go on to earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. The median student debt is $17,750.
Florida State University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Florida. Located in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,517, with out-of-state students paying around $21,683. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,884. Graduates carry a median of $20,488 in student loans.
Out of the 27 graduate schools in Florida in this year's ranking, Nova Southeastern University landed the #4 spot. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,595 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,021.
Out of the 27 graduate schools in Florida in this year's ranking, University Of South Florida Main Campus landed the #5 spot. Set in Tampa, FL, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 77%. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. University Of South Florida Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,885. University Of South Florida Main Campus students take on a median of $21,829 in debt.
Stetson University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in DeLand, FL. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,410. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,839 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,382.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Median early-career earnings reach $70,246. Students borrow a median of $22,845 to complete a degree here.
University Of Central Florida did well this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,790 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,620.
University Of North Florida ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Jacksonville, FL. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,964, while out-of-state students pay about $19,407. University Of North Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,208. Graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans.
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. Florida International University graduates 74% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $6,565 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,964 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $52,517. Typical student debt is $19,349.
Jacksonville University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Set in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $48,150. Jacksonville University graduates report median early-career earnings of $72,608. The median student debt is $25,619.
Florida Southern College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Lakeland, FL, Florida Southern College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,040. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,665. Typical student debt is $25,357.
Saint Thomas University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Saint Thomas University is a private not-for-profit school based in Miami Gardens, FL. Saint Thomas University graduates 48% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $34,770 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,292 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,955.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #14 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Boca Raton, FL. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Florida Atlantic University graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,340. Florida Atlantic University students take on a median of $20,212 in debt.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Fort Myers, FL. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates 57% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,726 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,015.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based 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. In-state tuition and fees average $21,420. Adventist University Of Health Sciences graduates report median early-career earnings of $86,163. Typical student debt is $28,333.
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. In-state tuition and fees run about $45,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,878. Typical student debt is $32,114.
The University Of West Florida landed the #18 spot in Florida this year. Based in Pensacola, FL, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,776, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. The University Of West Florida graduates report median early-career earnings 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 did well this year, earning the #19 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in West Palm Beach, FL. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Students from in state pay about $40,650 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,317. The median student debt is $24,787.
Barry University came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Based in Miami, FL, Barry University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,350. Barry University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,906. Graduates carry a median of $31,180 in student loans.
Saint Leo University landed the #21 spot in Florida this year. Based in Saint Leo, FL, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Leo University graduates 44% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,458. The median student debt is $32,116.
Southeastern University landed the #22 spot in Florida this year. Set in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southeastern University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,950. Median early-career earnings reach $40,154. Graduates carry a median of $23,460 in student loans.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale landed the #23 spot in Florida this year. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Keiser University Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit institution. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. Students from in state pay about $25,056 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,965. Typical student debt is $36,416.
Miami Regional University landed the #24 spot in Florida this year. Set in Miami Springs, FL, Miami Regional University is a private for-profit institution. Miami Regional University posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. Median early-career earnings reach $52,137. The median student debt is $22,734.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Located in Tallahassee, FL, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a public institution. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,785, compared with $17,725 for out-of-state students. Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University graduates report median early-career earnings of $38,719. Graduates carry a median of $26,824 in student loans.
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Graduate schools 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
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.