Best test-optional colleges in Florida
Colleges that don't require the SAT or ACT for admission, ranked by Compass Score.
Best test-optional colleges in Florida35 schools
35 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.
- Admission test policy: considered but not required, or neither required nor recommended (federal admissions 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 Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 84% graduate
- 2
- 3
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit#12 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 71% graduate
- 4Tie
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 67% graduate
- 4Tie
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL · Private for-profitTop 6% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 88% graduate
- 6
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL · Private nonprofit#15 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 64% graduate
- 7
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota, FL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- SAT or ACT not required
- 72% graduate
- 8
Stetson University
DeLand, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 62% graduate
- 9
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- SAT or ACT not required
- 66% graduate
- 10
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 54% graduate
- 11
Beacon College
Leesburg, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 60% graduate
- 12
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, FL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 51% graduate
- 13
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 63% graduate
- 14
Baptist University of Florida
Graceville, FL · Private nonprofitTop 16% for low net price
- SAT or ACT not required
- 52% graduate
- 15
DeVry University-Florida
Orlando, FL · Private for-profitGood: Compass grade B
- SAT or ACT not required
- 33% graduate
- 16
Albizu University-Miami
Miami, FL · Private nonprofitTop 1% for low debt
- SAT or ACT not required
- 40% graduate
- 17
- 18
Flagler College
Saint Augustine, FL · Private nonprofit#37 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 56% graduate
- 19
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit#38 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 20
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, FL · Private nonprofit#39 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 55% graduate
- 21
Everglades University
Boca Raton, FL · Private nonprofit#40 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 61% graduate
- 22
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- SAT or ACT not required
- 21% graduate
- 23
Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit#44 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 43% graduate
- 24
Warner University
Lake Wales, FL · Private nonprofit#46 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 42% graduate
- 25
St. Thomas University
Miami Gardens, FL · Private nonprofit#47 in Florida
- SAT or ACT not required
- 48% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Miami | $37,244 | $17,500 | $75,328 | 84% |
| Rollins College | $34,732 | $25,500 | $58,295 | 75% |
| Florida Southern College | $28,551 | $25,000 | $55,294 | 71% |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | $41,272 | $23,666 | $84,131 | 67% |
| Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | $28,820 | $19,000 | $41,200 | 88% |
| The University of Tampa | $36,211 | $24,211 | $59,436 | 64% |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | $57,742 | $27,000 | $43,325 | 72% |
| Stetson University | $19,372 | $23,250 | $51,642 | 62% |
| Eckerd College | $38,071 | $27,000 | $51,819 | 66% |
| Ave Maria University | $24,860 | $20,776 | $49,520 | 54% |
| Beacon College | $53,517 | $25,000 | $29,420 | 60% |
| Jacksonville University | $25,180 | $22,000 | $68,010 | 51% |
| Nova Southeastern University | $30,371 | $24,250 | $59,209 | 63% |
| Baptist University of Florida | $10,372 | $23,590 | $42,836 | 52% |
| DeVry University-Florida | $29,477 | $24,807 | $45,987 | 33% |
| Albizu University-Miami | $19,849 | $5,500 | $41,544 | 40% |
| Lynn University | $44,089 | $17,940 | $49,006 | 52% |
| Flagler College | $30,525 | $24,250 | $49,483 | 56% |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | $30,498 | $26,125 | $39,696 | 61% |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | $28,354 | $22,500 | $49,232 | 55% |
| Everglades University | $27,371 | $38,996 | $47,597 | 61% |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide | $18,725 | $23,666 | $84,131 | 21% |
| Southeastern University | $31,942 | $21,500 | $46,744 | 43% |
| Warner University | $19,748 | $22,250 | $46,086 | 42% |
| St. Thomas University | $26,312 | $19,125 | $54,272 | 48% |
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 23
- Arizona 12
- Arkansas 10
- California 100
- Colorado 16
- Connecticut 18
- Delaware 3
- District of Columbia 5
- Georgia 42
- Hawaii 5
- Idaho 6
- Illinois 56
- Indiana 40
- Iowa 29
- Kansas 24
- Kentucky 25
- Louisiana 21
- Maine 15
- Maryland 25
- Massachusetts 59
- Michigan 40
- Minnesota 35
- Mississippi 10
- Missouri 42
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 14
- Nevada 5
- New Hampshire 11
- New Jersey 33
- New Mexico 5
- New York 125
- North Carolina 54
- North Dakota 7
- Ohio 68
- Oklahoma 14
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 113
- Puerto Rico 32
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 30
- South Dakota 10
- Tennessee 28
- Texas 65
- Utah 8
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 43
- Washington 20
- West Virginia 13
- Wisconsin 34