Most selective colleges in Florida
Colleges that admit the smallest share of applicants.
Most selective colleges in Florida20 schools
20 schools qualify, ranked by admission rate.
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 an admission rate from federal data (College Scorecard). Average SAT scores are shown where the college reports them.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by admission rate, lowest first. Selectivity measures demand for places, not the quality of teaching.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#2 in Florida
- Admits 19%
- Average SAT 1415
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · PublicTop 16% for low net price
- Admits 53%
- Average SAT 1153
- 10
Florida International University
Miami, FL · PublicTop 13% for low net price
- Admits 55%
- Average SAT 1163
- 11
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, FL · Private nonprofit#20 in Florida
- Admits 58%
- Average SAT 1225
- 12
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor RollTop 4% for low net price
- Admits 61%
- Average SAT 1338
- 13
- 14
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Admits 65%
- Average SAT 1257
- 15
- 16
Stetson University
DeLand, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 72%
- Average SAT 1176
- 17
- 18
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Admits 73%
- Average SAT 1157
- 19
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofitVery good: Compass grade B+
- Admits 76%
- Average SAT 1250
- 20
Southeastern College-West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, FL · Private for-profitTop 6% for graduation
- Admits 87%
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% |
| University of Florida | $6,541 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 91% |
| Florida State University | $11,297 | $18,000 | $61,675 | 86% |
| University of Central Florida | $10,411 | $18,190 | $58,308 | 78% |
| The University of Tampa | $36,211 | $24,211 | $59,436 | 64% |
| University of South Florida | $9,812 | $17,988 | $57,743 | 77% |
| Beacon College | $53,517 | $25,000 | $29,420 | 60% |
| Rollins College | $34,732 | $25,500 | $58,295 | 75% |
| University of North Florida | $10,154 | $15,531 | $56,343 | 69% |
| Florida International University | $9,288 | $16,500 | $60,249 | 74% |
| Florida Institute of Technology | $35,639 | $27,000 | $43,137 | 64% |
| University of Florida-Online | $4,815 | $15,000 | $71,588 | 85% |
| Florida Southern College | $28,551 | $25,000 | $55,294 | 71% |
| 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% |
| Stetson University | $19,372 | $23,250 | $51,642 | 62% |
| New College of Florida | $7,195 | $17,375 | $48,082 | 67% |
| Nova Southeastern University | $30,371 | $24,250 | $59,209 | 63% |
| Eckerd College | $38,071 | $27,000 | $51,819 | 66% |
| 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 57
- Colorado 7
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Georgia 9
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 21
- Indiana 21
- Iowa 16
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 7
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 9
- Maryland 16
- Massachusetts 46
- Michigan 21
- Minnesota 19
- Missouri 19
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 5
- New Jersey 17
- New York 79
- North Carolina 18
- Ohio 32
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 60
- Rhode Island 9
- South Carolina 9
- Tennessee 10
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 6
- Virginia 22
- Washington 12
- Wisconsin 15