2026 Best Graduate Schools in Florida
With all of the graduate school options in Florida, it can be hard to know where to start. This list ranks 272 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed graduate schools 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.
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Top 25 Graduate Schools in Florida
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
Leading the list is University Of Florida, our #1 graduate school in Florida. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $58,388. University Of Florida students take on a median of $17,669 in debt.
A rank of #2 makes Florida State University one of the top graduate schools in Florida. Florida State University is a public school based in Tallahassee, FL. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $6,517, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,884. Florida State University students take on a median of $20,488 in debt.
You'll be in good company at University Of Miami, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Coral Gables, FL. University Of Miami posts a six-year graduation rate of 84%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,616. Early-career graduates earn a median of $57,234. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 272 graduate schools 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. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,410, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,885. Typical student debt is $21,829.
University Of Florida Online came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Florida. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees run about $3,876, compared with $16,579 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,822 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,779 to complete a degree here.
University Of Central Florida landed the #6 spot in Florida this year. 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. Median early-career earnings reach $51,790. Graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans.
Florida Polytechnic University placed #7 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Based in Lakeland, FL, Florida Polytechnic University is a public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,940, compared with $21,004 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $64,823. Typical student debt is $7,500.
University Of North Florida ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Jacksonville, FL, University Of North Florida is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,964, compared with $19,407 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,208. Graduates carry a median of $18,523 in student loans.
Florida International University did well this year, earning the #9 position. Florida International University is a public school based in Miami, FL. About 74% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $6,565, with out-of-state students paying around $18,964. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,517. Florida International University students take on a median of $19,349 in debt.
The University Of Tampa ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tampa, FL. The University Of Tampa posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,408. The University Of Tampa graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,401. Graduates carry a median of $25,191 in student loans.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Daytona Beach, FL, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,074. Graduates go on to earn a median of $70,246 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,845 to complete a degree here.
Nova Southeastern University placed #12 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. Median early-career earnings reach $70,595. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete a degree here.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private for-profit school is set in Jacksonville, FL. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,680. Early-career graduates earn a median of $83,188. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Florida students take on a median of $39,146 in debt.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. 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%. Students from in state pay about $6,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $25,162. Early-career graduates earn a median of $50,726. The median student debt is $20,015.
Florida Atlantic University came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Located in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Florida Atlantic University graduates 63% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,340 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $20,212.
Ringling College Of Art And Design landed the #16 spot in Florida this year. Ringling College Of Art And Design is a private not-for-profit school based in Sarasota, FL. About 72% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $57,900. Ringling College Of Art And Design graduates report median early-career earnings of $27,417. The median student debt is $27,000.
Jacksonville University placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Located 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $72,608. Jacksonville University students take on a median of $25,619 in debt.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide did well this year, earning the #18 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Daytona Beach, FL. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide graduates 23% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,097. Median early-career earnings reach $76,517. Students borrow a median of $20,787 to complete a degree here.
Stetson University placed #19 among the best graduate schools in Florida. Based in DeLand, FL, Stetson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Stetson University graduates 62% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $57,410. Early-career graduates earn a median of $38,839. Students borrow a median of $25,382 to complete a degree here.
Rollins College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Set in Winter Park, FL, Rollins College is a private not-for-profit institution. Rollins College graduates 75% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $60,580. Median early-career earnings reach $40,403. The median student debt is $26,203.
Adventist University Of Health Sciences ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Orlando, FL. Roughly 37% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,420. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $86,163. Graduates carry a median of $28,333 in student loans.
Florida Southern College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Lakeland, FL, Florida Southern College is a private not-for-profit institution. Florida Southern College graduates 70% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,040. Median early-career earnings reach $48,665. Students borrow a median of $25,357 to complete a degree here.
The University Of West Florida placed #23 among the best graduate schools in Florida. This public school is set in Pensacola, FL. The University Of West Florida posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Students from in state pay about $5,776 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,658. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,141. Students borrow a median of $19,677 to complete a degree here.
West Coast University Miami did well this year, earning the #24 position. This private for-profit school is set in Doral, FL. West Coast University Miami graduates 33% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,317. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $95,859. Graduates carry a median of $38,145 in student loans.
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Florida Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit school based in Melbourne, FL. Florida Institute Of Technology posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,900. Florida Institute Of Technology graduates report median early-career earnings of $69,878. Graduates carry a median of $32,114 in student loans.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Graduate Schools in Florida
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 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.