College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

Filters

Search & sort
Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School1
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major1
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
Clear all
RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
collegesState: FloridaMajor: Engineering (any)Clear all

29 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    University of Florida

    #1 in Florida
    Gainesville, FL · Public · 4-year · 54,814 students

    $6,541 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    University of Miami

    #2 in Florida
    Coral Gables, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 19,593 students

    $37,244 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    Florida State University

    #3 in Florida
    Tallahassee, FL · Public · 4-year · 43,234 students

    $11,297 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 8%

    University of Florida-Online

    Top 4% for low net price
    Gainesville, FL · Public · 4-year · 5,462 students

    $4,815 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    University of Central Florida

    #6 in Florida
    Orlando, FL · Public · 4-year · 69,233 students

    $10,411 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    University of South Florida

    #7 in Florida
    Tampa, FL · Public · 4-year · 48,572 students

    $9,812 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Rollins College

    #8 in Florida
    Winter Park, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,013 students

    $34,732 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Florida International University

    Top 13% for low net price
    Miami, FL · Public · 4-year · 53,953 students

    $9,288 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 17%

    Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

    #10 in Florida
    Tallahassee, FL · Public · 4-year · 9,265 students

    $13,739 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 18%

    University of North Florida

    Top 16% for low net price
    Jacksonville, FL · Public · 4-year · 16,453 students

    $10,154 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 22%

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach

    Top 6% for earnings
    Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,070 students

    $41,272 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 27%

    Florida Polytechnic University

    Top 17% for low debt
    Lakeland, FL · Public · 4-year · 1,618 students

    $11,853 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.Value not rated yetAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 28%

    University of West Florida

    Top 14% for low net price
    Pensacola, FL · Public · 4-year · 14,371 students

    $9,364 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    Florida Atlantic University

    Top 12% for low net price
    Boca Raton, FL · Public · 4-year · 30,790 students

    $8,752 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    Florida Institute of Technology

    #20 in Florida
    Melbourne, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 8,516 students

    $35,639 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    Eckerd College

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    Saint Petersburg, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,986 students

    $38,071 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 36%

    Florida Gulf Coast University

    Top 24% for low net price
    Fort Myers, FL · Public · 4-year · 16,167 students

    $12,568 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 39%

    Jacksonville University

    Top 16% for earnings
    Jacksonville, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,957 students

    $25,180 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Nova Southeastern University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 20,877 students

    $30,371 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    DeVry University-Florida

    Good: Compass grade B
    Orlando, FL · Private for-profit · 4-year · 196 students

    $29,477 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

    #38 in Florida
    Fort Lauderdale, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 20,102 students

    $30,498 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Palm Beach Atlantic University

    #39 in Florida
    West Palm Beach, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,875 students

    $28,354 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide

    Top 6% for earnings
    Daytona Beach, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 12,268 students

    $18,725 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsFair
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando

    #43 in Florida
    Orlando, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 119 students

    $16,577 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsFair
  • Compass ScoreSolid

    Saint Leo University

    #54 in Florida
    Saint Leo, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,231 students

    $21,293 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsFair

Don’t see a school? Suggest it.

Sort by

0 school selectedCompare

What would it cost your family?

Pick your family’s yearly income. Each college then shows what families like yours paid on average after grants and scholarships (federal data).

Reach, Target or Likely?

Enter an SAT or ACT to sort every college in this search.

Will you get in?

Enter your SAT or ACT. We compare it with the middle range of students the college admitted.