There are three main types of higher education institutions in Florida. College students in Florida may attend two-year or four-year colleges, community colleges, or universities. Whether you want to learn a specific job skill, gain general knowledge and skills, or transfer your credits to another institution to complete your degree, there’s an option in Florida that will work for you!
- Most institutions within these categories are public and state-funded, although some private universities also exist throughout the state.
- To help you figure out which type of institution would be best suited to your needs, read on to see how many colleges are in Florida!
Most Popular College Towns In Florida
There are tons of colleges and students in Florida and a lot of great towns for these students to live, as well. Whether you’re looking for a party town, an alternative to Miami, or a kid-friendly area, there is a college town in Florida to fit your needs.
So what makes each college town special?
- The atmosphere, nightlife, and cost of living vary from city to city, so choosing one depends on your personal preferences.
- For example, Tallahassee is home to almost 100,000 residents, but under 50 thousand students, so it has more of a small-town feel than most other school cities. St. Petersburg is also a good choice if you want to be close to Tampa Bay without being right in its big city center.
- If you’re interested in moving somewhere with plenty of nightlife options, then head over to Gainesville, where bars and restaurants line University Avenue.
Lastly, if family life is important to you, then check out Pensacola because it’s got some great neighborhoods with schools nearby.
The Everglades, St. Augustine, and Gainesville all have at least three universities each.
The University of Miami, Florida International University, and the University of South Florida; St. Johns River State College, Flagler College, and New College of Florida; and Jacksonville University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Edward Waters College.
The rest of the schools we rounded up offer two or fewer options for higher education: Barry (University), Daytona Beach (Florida Southern), Lakeland (Southeastern), Pensacola (Pensacola Christian), Tallahassee (Leon), Tampa (USF) and West Palm Beach, among others. We’re still digging to see if there are more universities to add.
- If you know of any others we should know about, leave us a comment!
- Remember—a small town doesn’t mean any university!
There are tons of small towns with at least one college. In fact, just because a place is small doesn’t mean it isn’t an interesting place to live—and that it won’t have great opportunities for your family.
The Western Panhandle Is Home To Multiple Schools, Including FSU
According to our research, there are more than 12 different schools located within an hour’s drive of Tallahassee, including Florida State University (FSU), which has over 39,000 students and is a leader in scientific research.
- With an array of available programs and degrees, FSU draws students from around the country.
- If you’re looking for something outside of Tallahassee that’s also close to home, check out Stetson University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach.
- The Western Panhandle is also home to several community colleges, including Santa Fe College, Chipola College, and Gulf Coast State College.
- There are also several private institutions in Florida with campuses throughout the state. These include Rollins College, Lynn University, and Eckerd College.
- Many online universities have made it possible for students across Florida to earn their degrees without having to leave their homes or jobs.
- For example, National American University offers online Bachelor’s degree programs in Business Administration (BBA) and Criminal Justice Administration (CJA).
Southern Highlands – UCF and FAU is located in this area
UCF is located about 30 minutes south of Orlando, and FAU is located about 25 minutes south of Miami. UCF is also easily accessible from Daytona Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, which makes it a great option for students who live in these areas.
- Averaging around 50,000 students each year, UCF is a beautiful campus where students can find their place quickly and feel at home among like-minded individuals.
- One of UCF’s top strengths is its STEM program, which offers students opportunities to get involved with research before graduating through independent study or undergraduate research projects.
- Students can do hands-on work or just shadow researchers as they work in laboratories on campus. It’s easy to see why so many STEM majors choose UCF as a university to attend!
- Central West – This region boasts two of the state’s oldest institutions, FAMU and UF.
Southwest Florida – Along with campuses from some well-known universities, this region has other public schools as well.
State universities include the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee, a regional campus of USF with about 3,500 students; Palm Beach State College, and Manatee Community College. Private schools include Eckerd College, Keiser University’s Florida land Campus, and Fortis College. Charter schools include American Heritage School, Achievement Academy of North Port, and All Children’s Academy. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students goes to public school through Lee County Schools, while Collier County Public Schools oversees grades 6-12.
Central South – The biggest school here is USF Tampa Bay
It has an enrollment of about 36,000 students. The entire University of South Florida (all four campuses) has around 50,000 students. There is also a branch campus for Hillsborough Community College and another branch campus for St Petersburg College. Further south, you’ll find Florida Gulf Coast University (about 13,000 students), Keiser University – Ft Myers (about 14,400), Barry University – Orlando (about 13,800), and Rollins College- Winter Park (about 2,200). Between these schools, we have just over 71,400 college students living here!
Northwest – This region includes the famous college town of Tallahassee
Home to several universities, including Florida State University, It also houses Pensacola, which has a bustling military and commercial aviation presence.
- If you’re moving to Northwest Florida, there’s a pretty high chance you already know what college your son or daughter will be attending.
- If that’s not something you’ve already considered, then here are just a few of the most popular options Tallahassee Community College (TCC), Florida A&M University (FAMU), Troy University, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and Auburn-Montgomery Community College.
- The latter two offer distance learning programs that allow students to live at home while they earn their degrees!
If none of these schools sound like a good fit for your child, there are plenty more to choose from in Northwest Florida: check out Alabama Gulf Coast Community College or Southern Union State Community College for some additional options.
Final Words
You may be asking yourself, Why does it matter how many schools are in a state?
Well, for one thing, it can affect your plans to go to college. If you live near a large university and plan on attending that school when you graduate high school, keep an eye on your state’s enrollment rate. Don’t let population growth outpace education funding!
- The number of universities in Florida increased by 3% between 2015 and 2016.
- That is almost double what it was in 2014-to 2015.
This means more competition for spots at local schools and more students being turned away from their first choice school because they don’t have enough space available.
- Make sure you know how many colleges are in Florida before planning your future!