by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Florida, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks **30** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual evaluated 30 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.
Here is the early-career salary range across the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Our analysis found University Of Florida to be the best graduate school in Florida. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,388. The median student debt is $17,669.
Out of the 30 graduate schools in Florida in this year's ranking, Florida State University landed the #2 spot. Located in Tallahassee, FL, Florida State University is a public institution. Florida State University graduates 86% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $51,884. Students borrow a median of $20,488 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Miami one of the top graduate schools in Florida. University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit school based in Coral Gables, FL. University Of Miami graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,616. Median early-career earnings reach $57,234. Typical student debt is $17,750.
You'll be in good company at University Of South Florida Main Campus, which ranked #4 this year. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school based in Tampa, FL. University Of South Florida Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 77%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,885. University Of South Florida Main Campus students take on a median of $21,829 in debt.
You'll be in good company at University Of Central Florida, which ranked #5 this year. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. University Of Central Florida graduates 78% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,368, while out-of-state students pay about $22,467. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,790. Typical student debt is $21,620.
Florida Polytechnic University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Florida Polytechnic University is a public school based in Lakeland, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees average $4,940, with out-of-state students paying around $21,004. Florida Polytechnic University graduates report median early-career earnings of $64,823. Typical student debt is $7,500.
Florida International University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Miami, FL. 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. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,517. Students borrow a median of $19,349 to complete a degree here.
The University Of Tampa landed the #8 spot in Florida this year. Located in Tampa, FL, The University Of Tampa is a private not-for-profit institution. The University Of Tampa posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,408. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $45,401. The median student debt is $25,191.
Nova Southeastern University placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Located 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. Nova Southeastern University graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,595. Graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans.
Florida Atlantic University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $49,340. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete a degree here.
University Of North Florida landed the #11 spot in Florida this year. This public school is set in Jacksonville, FL. University Of North Florida graduates 65% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $5,964, 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.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit school based in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,074. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach graduates report median early-career earnings of $70,246. Students borrow a median of $22,845 to complete a degree here.
Rollins College placed #13 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Set in Winter Park, FL, Rollins College is a private not-for-profit institution. Rollins College posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. Students from in state pay about $60,580 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $40,403. Graduates carry a median of $26,203 in student loans.
Florida Gulf Coast University placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Located in Fort Myers, FL, Florida Gulf Coast University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,118, compared with $25,162 for out-of-state students. Florida Gulf Coast University graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,726. Typical student debt is $20,015.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Orlando, FL, Adventist University Of Health Sciences is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 37%. 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.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide is a private not-for-profit institution. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide graduates 23% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. Early-career graduates earn a median of $76,517. The median student debt is $20,787.
Jacksonville University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Set in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville University is a private not-for-profit institution. Jacksonville University graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,150. Early-career graduates earn a median of $72,608. The median student debt is $25,619.
Florida Institute Of Technology ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,878. The median student debt is $32,114.
Stetson University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Florida. 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 run about $57,410. Median early-career earnings reach $38,839. The median student debt is $25,382.
The University Of West Florida ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Pensacola, FL, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,141. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete a degree here.
Florida Southern College ranked #21 on our 2026 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 average $44,040. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,665. Graduates carry a median of $25,357 in student loans.
Saint Thomas University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Miami Gardens, FL. Saint Thomas University graduates 48% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $34,770. Early-career graduates earn a median of $55,292. Students borrow a median of $24,955 to complete a degree here.
Barry University came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Barry University is a private not-for-profit school based in Miami, FL. Barry University posts a six-year graduation rate of 37%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,350. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,906. The median student debt is $31,180.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach did well this year, earning the #24 position. Set in West Palm Beach, FL, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $40,650. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,317. Students borrow a median of $24,787 to complete a degree here.
Saint Leo University landed the #25 spot in Florida this year. Located in Saint Leo, FL, Saint Leo University is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Leo University graduates 44% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $30,000 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,458. Saint Leo University students take on a median of $32,116 in debt.
These graduate schools also placed among the very best this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced 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
See our data sources and methodologies.
