Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Florida
Colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics, ranked by Compass Score.
Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in Florida14 schools
14 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Florida.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Competes in NCAA Division I (the school's athletics association, from federal and association data).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Florida
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 91% graduate
- 2
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Florida
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 84% graduate
- 3
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Florida
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 86% graduate
- 4
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 85% graduate
- 5
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Florida
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 78% graduate
- 6
- 7
Florida International University
Miami, FL · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 74% graduate
- 8
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL · Public#10 in Florida
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 53% graduate
- 9
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 69% graduate
- 10
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 63% graduate
- 11
Stetson University
DeLand, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 62% graduate
- 12
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 57% graduate
- 13
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 51% graduate
- 14
Bethune-Cookman University
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 21% for low net price
- NCAA Division I athletics
- 31% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | About $7,000 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 91% |
| University of Miami | About $37,000 | $17,500 | $75,328 | 84% |
| Florida State University | About $11,000 | $18,000 | $61,675 | 86% |
| University of Florida-Online | About $5,000 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 85% |
| University of Central Florida | About $10,000 | $18,190 | $58,308 | 78% |
| University of South Florida | About $10,000 | $17,988 | $57,743 | 77% |
| Florida International University | About $9,000 | $16,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | About $14,000 | $23,548 | $44,349 | 53% |
| University of North Florida | About $10,000 | $15,531 | $56,343 | 69% |
| Florida Atlantic University | About $9,000 | $17,236 | $56,746 | 63% |
| Stetson University | About $19,000 | $23,250 | $51,642 | 62% |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | About $13,000 | $17,622 | $54,560 | 57% |
| Jacksonville University | About $25,000 | $22,000 | $68,010 | 51% |
| Bethune-Cookman University | About $12,000 | $31,000 | $38,518 | 31% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 10
- Arizona 5
- Arkansas 5
- California 26
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 6
- District of Columbia 4
- Georgia 6
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 13
- Indiana 11
- Iowa 4
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 8
- Louisiana 12
- Maryland 9
- Massachusetts 9
- Michigan 7
- Mississippi 6
- Missouri 6
- Nebraska 3
- New Jersey 8
- New York 23
- North Carolina 19
- Ohio 13
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 4
- Pennsylvania 15
- Rhode Island 4
- South Carolina 12
- Tennessee 12
- Texas 26
- Utah 7
- Virginia 14
- Washington 5
- Wisconsin 4