Best colleges in Florida
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
61 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Schools in Florida.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- 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
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 91% graduate
- 2
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Florida
- Value grade B-
- 84% graduate
- 3
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Florida
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 86% graduate
- 4
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 1%
- 85% graduate
- 5
Miami Regional University
Miami Springs, FL · Private for-profit#5 in Florida
- Value grade C+
- 84% graduate
- 6
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Florida
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 78% graduate
- 7
- 8
- 9
Florida International University
Miami, FL · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- 74% graduate
- 10
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Tallahassee, FL · Public#10 in Florida
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 53% graduate
- 11
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 4%
- 69% graduate
- 12
- 13Tie
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Value grade C+
- 67% graduate
- 13Tie
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL · Private for-profitTop 6% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 88% graduate
- 15
- 16
New College of Florida
Sarasota, FL · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 14%
- 67% graduate
- 17
- 18
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL · PublicTop 14% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 59% graduate
- 19
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · PublicTop 12% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 63% graduate
- 20
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, FL · Private nonprofit#20 in Florida
- Value grade C+
- 64% graduate
- 21
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota, FL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 72% graduate
- 22
Stetson University
DeLand, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade B
- 62% graduate
- 23
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Value grade C+
- 66% graduate
- 24Tie
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Value grade B-
- 54% graduate
- 24Tie
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL · PublicTop 24% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 11%
- 57% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
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 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3