by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Florida, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **19** schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed 19 graduate schools across over 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Our analysis found University Of Florida to be the best graduate school in Florida. Located in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. University Of Florida graduates report median early-career earnings of $58,388. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Miami earned it the #2 place in Florida. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. University Of Miami students take on a median of $17,750 in debt.
Out of the 19 graduate schools in Florida in this year's ranking, Florida State University landed the #3 spot. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, while out-of-state students pay about $21,683. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,884 early in their careers. Florida State University students take on a median of $20,488 in debt.
University Of South Florida Main Campus came in at #4 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Florida. Based in Tampa, FL, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. University Of South Florida Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Students from in state pay about $6,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,885 early in their careers. The median student debt is $21,829.
The strong outcomes at University Of Central Florida earned it the #5 place in Florida. Based in Orlando, FL, University Of Central Florida is a public institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,790. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete a degree here.
Florida International University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Miami, FL, Florida International University is a public institution. Florida International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Florida International University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,517. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete a degree here.
Nova Southeastern University landed the #7 spot in Florida this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Lauderdale, FL. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,700. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $70,595. Typical student debt is $25,021.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach landed the #8 spot in Florida this year. Located in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,074. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,246 early in their careers. The median student debt is $22,845.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Florida Atlantic University students take on a median of $20,212 in debt.
Florida Southern College landed the #10 spot in Florida this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lakeland, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,665. Graduates carry a median of $25,357 in student loans.
University Of North Florida landed the #11 spot in Florida this year. Based in Jacksonville, FL, University Of North Florida is a public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $5,964 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,407. Early-career graduates earn a median of $49,208. Graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans.
Florida Gulf Coast University did well this year, earning the #12 position. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public school based in Fort Myers, FL. Florida Gulf Coast University posts a six-year graduation rate of 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, while out-of-state students pay about $25,162. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,726. Typical student debt is $20,015.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Melbourne, FL, Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,900. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $69,878. Graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans.
The University Of West Florida came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Pensacola, FL, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,141 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $19,677.
Barry University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Miami, FL, Barry University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. Students from in state pay about $34,350 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,906 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $31,180 to complete a degree here.
Saint Thomas University came in at #16 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. Typical student debt is $24,955.
Saint Leo University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Saint Leo, FL, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,000. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,458. Typical student debt is $32,116.
Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Set in Tallahassee, FL, Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University is a public institution. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $5,785, while out-of-state students pay about $17,725. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,719. Typical student debt is $26,824.
Southeastern University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lakeland, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $40,154. Students borrow a median of $23,460 to complete a degree here.
Keiser University Ft Lauderdale ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale posts a six-year graduation rate of 58%. In-state tuition and fees run about $25,056. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,965. Keiser University Ft Lauderdale students take on a median of $36,416 in debt.
Lynn University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Boca Raton, FL, Lynn University is a private not-for-profit institution. Lynn University graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,480. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,569 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $21,391.
Carlos Albizu University Miami ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Miami, FL, Carlos Albizu University Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,818. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,380 early in their careers.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.