Colleges where the most freshmen return in Florida
Colleges ranked by first-year retention: the share of full-time freshmen who come back for a second year.
Colleges where the most freshmen return in Florida21 schools
21 schools qualify, ranked by first-year retention.
How this list is made
- Schools in Florida.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has a first-year retention rate from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by retention rate, highest first.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll#1 in Florida
- 98% of freshmen return
- 91% graduate
- 2
Miami Regional University
Miami Springs, FL · Private for-profit#5 in Florida
- 97% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 3
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · PublicHonor Roll#3 in Florida
- 96% of freshmen return
- 86% graduate
- 4
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for low net price
- 95% of freshmen return
- 85% graduate
- 5
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Florida
- 94% of freshmen return
- 84% graduate
- 6
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · PublicHonor Roll#6 in Florida
- 92% of freshmen return
- 78% graduate
- 7
Florida International University
Miami, FL · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- 92% of freshmen return
- 74% graduate
- 8
- 9
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- 88% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 10
Ringling College of Art and Design
Sarasota, FL · Private nonprofitTop 18% for graduation
- 86% of freshmen return
- 72% graduate
- 11
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL · Private nonprofit#15 in Florida
- 85% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 12
- 13
Beacon College
Leesburg, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 85% of freshmen return
- 60% graduate
- 14
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- 85% of freshmen return
- 69% graduate
- 15
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit#12 in Florida
- 80% of freshmen return
- 71% graduate
- 16
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, FL · Private nonprofit#20 in Florida
- 80% of freshmen return
- 64% graduate
- 17
Stetson University
DeLand, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 78% of freshmen return
- 62% graduate
- 18
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- 76% of freshmen return
- 66% graduate
- 19
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- 76% of freshmen return
- 63% graduate
- 20
New College of Florida
Sarasota, FL · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- 76% of freshmen return
- 67% graduate
- 21
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL · Private for-profitTop 6% for graduation
- 67% of freshmen return
- 88% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | $6,541 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 91% |
| Miami Regional University | $22,113 | $22,500 | $29,081 | 84% |
| Florida State University | $11,297 | $18,000 | $61,675 | 86% |
| University of Florida-Online | $4,815 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 85% |
| University of Miami | $37,244 | $17,500 | $75,328 | 84% |
| University of Central Florida | $10,411 | $18,190 | $58,308 | 78% |
| Florida International University | $9,288 | $16,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| University of South Florida | $9,812 | $17,988 | $57,743 | 77% |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach | $41,272 | $23,666 | $84,131 | 67% |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | $57,742 | $27,000 | $43,325 | 72% |
| The University of Tampa | $36,211 | $24,211 | $59,436 | 64% |
| Rollins College | $34,732 | $25,500 | $58,295 | 75% |
| Beacon College | $53,517 | $25,000 | $29,420 | 60% |
| University of North Florida | $10,154 | $15,531 | $56,343 | 69% |
| Florida Southern College | $28,551 | $25,000 | $55,294 | 71% |
| Florida Institute of Technology | $35,639 | $27,000 | $43,137 | 64% |
| Stetson University | $19,372 | $23,250 | $51,642 | 62% |
| Eckerd College | $38,071 | $27,000 | $51,819 | 66% |
| Nova Southeastern University | $30,371 | $24,250 | $59,209 | 63% |
| New College of Florida | $7,195 | $17,375 | $48,082 | 67% |
| Southeastern College-West Palm Beach | $28,820 | $19,000 | $41,200 | 88% |
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 5
- Arizona 4
- Arkansas 5
- California 63
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 14
- District of Columbia 5
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 4
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 8
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 18
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 80
- North Carolina 17
- Ohio 31
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 62
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 10
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 20
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 20
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 15