These are the best colleges in Florida, ranked. Here’s how they all stack up

U.S. News and World Report has released its list of the best Florida colleges in 2025, determining which spots in the Sunshine State are the best for those pursuing higher education.

The study examines regionally accredited colleges and universities that offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs, using factors like graduation rates, borrower debts, student-faculty ratios and student performance to figure out which schools came out on top.

Overall, the highest-ranking college on the list is the University of Florida, which also placed No. 30 for the nation as a whole.

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According to the study, the 2,000-acre university is relatively selective with its admissions, holding an acceptance rate of 24%. The average GPA for prospective applicants rounded out to 3.9, with an SAT range of 1300-1480.

The next few universities on the list are Florida State University (No. 2), University of Miami (No. 3), and University of South Florida (No. 4).

Last year, Florida ranked as the top state in the country for education, largely thanks to its achievements in higher education.

“In higher education, Florida – which is No. 9 in the overall Best States rankings – posted the second-highest rates of timely graduation among students at public institutions pursuing two- and four-year degrees, respectively. Students attending its public, four-year institutions also faced the lowest average amount in the country for in-state tuition and fees. The state fell in the middle of the pack on two other measures of higher education: the average amount of federal student loan debt held by young adults and the share of those 25 and older in the state with at least an associate degree.

In metrics reflecting pre-K through high school, Florida excelled the most in college readiness – an assessment of the share of 12th-graders who scored highly on the SAT, ACT or both. It was No. 12 for preschool enrollment in the U.S., was tied alongside Illinois with a No. 19 ranking for high school graduation rate, and was No. 21 and No. 32 for eighth-grade reading and math scores, respectively.”

U.S. News and World Report, "Yes, Florida is No. 1 in the country for education. Here's why."

In terms of tuition and fees for higher education, Florida also ranked No. 1. The state came in second place when it came to two-year and four-year college graduation rates, though.

It remains to be seen whether the Sunshine State will keep its top-dog status when the education rankings get updated later this year, but in the meantime, the rest of the top university picks for this year are as follows: