The Sunshine State is home to more than 90 four-year public and private, not-for-profit colleges that award, at a minimum, bachelor’s degrees. In fact, Florida ranks among the states with the most colleges in the country. With so many colleges to choose from in Florida, it can be very difficult to decide on which schools to apply to.
While there are different criteria when researching colleges that you should consider, if you have a strong academic record in high school as well as other critical factors going for you, such as good SAT or ACT scores, participation in extracurricular activities, and demonstrated leadership skills, then you might want to apply to more selective colleges in Florida. And out of Florida’s vast number of schools, there are several colleges and universities that are very competitive in their acceptance rates due to their well-established academic rigor and programs.
Therefore, in order to find out the hardest colleges to get into in Florida, BrokeScholar analyzed all the schools in the state that are four-year institutions, including both public colleges and private, not for-profit colleges, that award bachelor’s degrees or higher. Sourcing the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as well as from individual college websites, we analyzed and ranked all colleges in Florida in terms of how difficult they are to gain acceptance to.
Read on to find out the answer to what are the hardest colleges to get into in Florida.
Table of Contents
- Top 20 Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Florida
- The Bottom Line on the Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Florida
What Are the Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Florida?
The top-20 list of the hardest colleges to get into in Florida is composed of 13 private, not-for-profit colleges and 7 public colleges, including famous names like Florida State University and the University of Florida, the latter of which ranks among the cultiest colleges in the U.S.
Of the top-10 hardest colleges to get into in Florida, the one with the highest admission rate is still only 60%, well below the average undergraduate acceptance rate for Florida as a whole. The No. 1 hardest college to get in Florida is the University of Miami, which has an undergraduate acceptance rate of just 19%. It also happens to be the most expensive college in Florida.
Below you’ll find a list of the 20 hardest colleges to get into in Florida, listed in order of lowest acceptance rate to highest acceptance rate. Also included in the breakdown below are the costs of tuition and required fees (though required fees do not include room and board).
|
College |
Undergraduate Acceptance Rate |
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled |
Undergraduate Population |
In-State Tuition and Required Fees |
|
|
19% |
25% |
12,504 |
$57,194 |
$57,194 |
|
|
23% |
44% |
34,552 |
$6,381 |
$28,659 |
|
|
25% |
31% |
32,936 |
$5,656 |
$18,786 |
|
|
26% |
18% |
9,602 |
$32,218 |
$32,218 |
|
|
33% |
37% |
7,709 |
$5,785 |
$17,725 |
|
|
34% |
32% |
1,110 |
$20,340 |
$20,340 |
|
|
41% |
33% |
58,662 |
$6,368 |
$22,467 |
|
|
44% |
24% |
1,247 |
$26,354 |
$26,354 |
|
|
44% |
24% |
38,047 |
$6,410 |
$17,324 |
|
|
48% |
27% |
9,291 |
$6,360 |
$19,241 |
|
|
49% |
21% |
1,100 |
$30,798 |
$30,798 |
|
|
50% |
14% |
2,583 |
$56,110 |
$56,110 |
|
|
50% |
51% |
340 |
$14,300 |
$14,300 |
|
|
52% |
47% |
501 |
$47,110 |
$47,110 |
|
|
55% |
32% |
761 |
$28,044 |
$28,044 |
|
|
56% |
29% |
1,531 |
$4,940 |
$21,005 |
|
|
57% |
12% |
2,721 |
$40,500 |
$40,500 |
|
|
58% |
54% |
8,479 |
$11,185 |
$11,185 |
|
|
58% |
13% |
2,563 |
$43,670 |
$43,670 |
|
|
60% |
8% |
3,122 |
$32,500 |
$32,500 |
The University of Miami tops the list of the hardest colleges to get into in Florida, although No. 2 University of Florida beats it in terms of graduation rate: 85% versus 90%, respectively. Interestingly, the school with the highest rate of those admitted who then enrolled is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Of the 58% of applicants admitted, a full 54% proceeded to attend the college.
The Bottom Line on the Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Florida
In the realm of higher education, the prestige and competitiveness of Florida's top institutions can't be understated. Earning a spot in one of these esteemed colleges is a testament to a student's dedication, academic prowess, and extracurricular achievements. However, once that acceptance letter is in hand, the reality of tuition, room and board, and other expenses can become a daunting prospect for many families. This underscores the vital importance of scholarships in today's educational landscape. Scholarships not only provide the financial relief many students need, but they also recognize and reward academic and personal accomplishments.
Moreover, in an era where every penny counts, student discounts offer another avenue to ease the burden of college costs. From textbooks to transportation and from dining to digital services, student discounts can significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expenses that quickly add up. As students aspire to join the ranks of Florida's hardest colleges to get into, it's essential they also arm themselves with the knowledge of financial aid and discounts available. By combining academic ambition with financial savvy, students can truly make the most of their college experience in Florida.
