Florida is an attractive place to study. The landscape is coastal, sunny, and beautiful. There is a good quality of education with over 220 universities and colleges. Florida provides an ideal combination of academics and environment. The state has such a great offering of institutions it might be challenging to pick one. The University of Miami and Florida International University (FIU) are top-tier institutions in Florida. To choose between the two universities, you need to understand their differences.
University of Miami and FIU are both great universities. However, the universities also have significant differences. The University of Miami is the eldest and the elitist of the two universities. The University of Miami was established in 1925, and it is a private and prestigious institution with very high standards. At the same time, FIU was established in 1972 and is an excellent public university that is more affordable and inclusive. Here is an overview of the differences between the University of Miami and FIU:
Criteria
University of Miami vs Florida International University
Location
Coral Gables, Florida.
University Park, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Tuition
$55 440 on average
$3,084 in-state, $9 283 out-of-state
Acceptance rate
28%
50%
Median SAT
1350 – 1480.
1110-1260
Median ACT
31 – 34
23-29
No. of Students
>17 000
>56 00
The University of Miami or Florida International University
Location
One obvious similarity between the University of Miami and FIU is their location in the state of Florida. The state of Florida is generally a beautiful, fun, and safe place to live in. The University of Miami is located in Coral Gables, Florida. Cora Gables is a charming suburban neighborhood that is a quiet and safe community. FIU is in University Park in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
The campus is large and was built on an abandoned airfield. Miami Dade County is a peaceful middle-class residential area.
Tuition
One of the significant differences between the University of Miami and FIU is the cost of tuition. The University of Miami is way more expensive than FIU; this is expected because private universities cost more than public universities. The University of Miami costs $55 440 on average for undergraduate students, which costs more than the national average ($41,281). In addition, the cost of room and board is $16 530 on-campus and $21,150 off-campus o average.
FIU is very affordable, making it more accessible than the University of Miami. The average cost of tuition is $3,084 for in-state students and $9 283 for out-of-state students. FIU is more affordable than the national average cost for in-state tuition ($11,331) and the average out-of-state tuition ($27,028). The university also has a grant called FIU’s Golden Promise, where students can go to the university for free. This grant uses FIU grants or scholarships and federal and state grants to provide free tuition for Florida residents. The grant covers four years of study for students with financial needs. To get the grant, you must be:
- Registered for a minimum of 12 credits per semester
- Finish 30 credit hours each year
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher at the end of every semester
What you will need to apply FIUs Golden Promise
- Be a college student for the first time (from 2017 or later)
- Evidence that you are a U.S. citizen
- Evidence that you are a Florida resident
- Submit the FAFSA before enrolling at FIU
- Have an EFC of 0, which indicates your household cannot afford tuition.
Acceptance rate
There is a significant distinction between the acceptance rate at the University of Miami and FIU. The University of Miami has an acceptance rate of 28%, making it highly selective. The university is elite, with very high standards for admission, which means it is difficult to get accepted at the university. FIU is not as selective as the University of Miami but moderately selective. The acceptance rate at the university is 50%. It is challenging to get into FIU, but it is not very t difficult.
Admission requirements
The admission requirements for both University of Miami and FIU are not demanding. However, the admission requirements of the University of Miami are a bit more taxing than FIU. For example, students from the University of Miami have median ACT scores of 31 – 34 and median SAT scores of 1350 – 1480. While at FIU, the medium SAT score for students is between 1110-1260, and the median ACT score of 23-29.
The admission requirements at the University of Miami are as follows:
- Complete application form
- High school transcript
- ACT/SAT (optional)
- Complete school report by guidance counselor
- Conduct updates for academic achievement or personal conduct
The admission requirements at FIU are as follows:
- Complete application form
- High school transcript
- ACT/SAT
- Documentation on residency
- Exam scores
Student population
Florida is a very diverse state, and the University of Miami and FIU reflect that diversity. Both universities have students from various groups and backgrounds; the University of Miami has a majority White student population (47%). There are also Black, Asian, Latino, and many other races. The University of Miami is extensive, with more than 17 000 students. The campus has 239 acres of land.
FIU has a majority Hispanic student population (61%). The university also has White, Black, Asian, and other minority students. FIU is much larger than the University of Miami. FIU is one of the top 10 most prominent universities in the U.S. There are more than 56 000 students at the university. FIU has a vast campus with 344 acres of land.
Conclusion
Florida is a fantastic place to study. You can have a good balance of academics and fun in the state. The sunny state is humid with lovely beaches. It also has excellent universities. Two of those universities are the University of Miami and FIU. The universities are very distinct; this means they can cater to students with different academic needs and wants. For example, the University of Miami is expensive and elite. On the other hand, FIU is much more affordable and accessible.