Florida · Getting in
Most selective colleges in Florida
The short answer
The most selective four-year colleges in Florida are University of Miami (19% admitted), UF (20% admitted) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (21% admitted), by acceptance rate.
Selective here means a low acceptance rate: the share of applicants the college admitted. A low rate says how many people a college turns away, not how good a fit it is for you. Each row also shows the average price after grants.
The list (21 of 43)
Four-year colleges in Florida with 500 or more undergraduates, lowest acceptance rate first. The list shows 21 of the 43 colleges with an acceptance rate on file. Rates come from IPEDS (fall 2024) for 14 colleges and each college's own Common Data Set (fall 2025) for 7 colleges.
- University of Miami 19% admitted Coral Gables, FL · Average price after grants: $36,483 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Florida 20% admitted Gainesville, FL · Average price after grants: $5,969 a year in-state, about $30,474 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University 21% admitted Tallahassee, FL · Average price after grants: $15,220 a year in-state, about $27,169 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Florida State University 24% admitted Tallahassee, FL · Average price after grants: $8,605 a year in-state, about $23,065 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- The University of Tampa 40% admitted Tampa, FL · Average price after grants: $40,584 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of South Florida 41% admitted Tampa, FL · Average price after grants: $8,648 a year in-state, about $20,654 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Ave Maria University 41% admitted Ave Maria, FL · Average price after grants: $25,893 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of Central Florida 43% admitted Orlando, FL · Average price after grants: $11,516 a year in-state, about $29,224 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Warner University 43% admitted Lake Wales, FL · Average price after grants: $19,778 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Beacon College 44% admitted Leesburg, FL · Average price after grants: $56,056 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Southeastern University 53% admitted Lakeland, FL · Average price after grants: $34,297 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Rollins College 53% admitted Winter Park, FL · Average price after grants: $36,204 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- University of North Florida 53% admitted Jacksonville, FL · Average price after grants: $11,689 a year in-state, about $26,093 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Jacksonville University 57% admitted Jacksonville, FL · Average price after grants: $28,424 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Florida Polytechnic University 57% admitted Lakeland, FL · Average price after grants: $11,278 a year in-state, about $27,343 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Florida Institute of Technology 58% admitted Melbourne, FL · Average price after grants: $36,511 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide 58% admitted Daytona Beach, FL · Average price after grants: $19,741 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- University of West Florida 58% admitted Pensacola, FL · Average price after grants: $9,443 a year in-state, about $22,324 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Florida International University 61% admitted Miami, FL · Average price after grants: $11,462 a year in-state, about $25,101 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: Common Data Set, fall 2025
- Florida Gulf Coast University 63% admitted Fort Myers, FL · Average price after grants: $11,555 a year in-state, about $30,599 out of state (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
- Florida Southern College 64% admitted Lakeland, FL · Average price after grants: $26,211 a year (College Scorecard, 2024-25) Source: IPEDS, fall 2024
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What are the most selective colleges in Florida?
The most selective four-year colleges in Florida are University of Miami (19% admitted), UF (20% admitted) and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (21% admitted), by acceptance rate.
How many colleges on this list admit fewer than half of applicants?
10 of the 21 colleges listed admitted fewer than half of their applicants.
How recent are these acceptance rates?
Each row shows its year. Rates come from IPEDS, the federal college survey, for students who applied for fall 2024, or from the college's own Common Data Set for fall 2025 where that is newer.
Numbers change each year when colleges and the Department of Education publish new data. Confirm costs and admission rules with the college before you apply.