What are the 12 public universities in Florida? If you are not familiar with the 12 public universities in the Sunshine State and want to see a list of these schools, we have made the complete list for you.
The 12 public universities listed in this guide are a few of the colleges and universities in Florida. Public universities tend to be less expensive compared to private universities and we believe more students, especially international students who want to study in Florida, will be searching for institutions with affordable tuition.
While public universities tend to have lower tuition, their acceptance rate can also be very selective. But not to worry as we have included the admission rate of each school, with link to their official website.
What are Public Universities?
Public universities or public colleges are institutions owned by a state and primarily funded by the state government. Compared to private colleges, public universities are larger and often have a larger student enrollment as well.
The difference between a private and a public university is that public universities are funded publicly in the sense that the funds used to maintain these universities come from state taxpayers.
They receive significant funds from a national or subnational government which ultimately makes the tuition fees in public universities relatively cheap.
If you are considering studying at a public university, you will pay a lower tuition fees as expected. You will be in a larger class sizes, but just know that you will have a larger selection of major than you would at a private college or university.
Also Read: Northwestern Engineering Ranking, Acceptance Rate, and Tuition Fees
What are the 12 Public Universities in Florida
Here are the 12 public universities in Florida not including the colleges and other schools and institutions.
#1. Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a long-established public black university located in Tallahassee, Florida. It was founded in 1887 and is located on the highest geographical hill in Tallahassee.
Admission to Florida A&M University is selective, with an acceptance rate of 21%. Half of the applicants admitted to Florida A&M University have SAT scores between 1030 and 1160, or ACT scores between 19 and 23. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 11th and 19th positions respectively.
#2. Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University is a public research university with its main campus located in Boca Raton, Florida, and other reputable satellite campuses in Dania Beach, David, Fort Lauderdale, Jupiter, and Fort Pierce.
Admission to Florida Atlantic University is selective, with an acceptance rate of 73%. Half of the applicants admitted to Florida Atlantic University have SAT scores between 1080 and 1240, or ACT scores between 22 and 26. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 6th and 7th positions respectively.
#3. Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University is a public university located in the city of Fort Myers, Florida. It is part of the Florida State University system and is its second-youngest member of the system.
The acceptance rate of Florida Gulf Coast University is selective, with an acceptance rate of 76.8%. Half of the applicants admitted to FGCU have SAT scores between 1060 and 1210, or ACT scores between 21 and 25. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 9th and 15th positions respectively.
#4. Florida International University
Florida International University is a public research university with its main campus located in Florida University Park. It is part of the Florida State University system and is designated as “Emerging Excellence.”
Florida International University has an acceptance rate that is selective in nature, with an acceptance rate of 59%. Half of the applicants admitted by FIU have SAT scores between 1110 and 1280, or ACT scores between 23 and 28. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 5th position in both rankings.
#5. Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Polytechnic University is a public university located in the city of Lakeland, Florida. Founded in 2012, it is an independent university and the latest of 12 academic institutions in the Florida State University system. It is the only public polytechnic university in the state and focuses only on STEM education.
The admission rate of Florida Poly University is selective, with an acceptance rate of 56%. The average SAT score of students entering Florida Poly is between 1200 and 1360, and the average ACT score is between 27-31. The deadline for applications for regular admissions at Florida Polytechnic University is April 1.
#6. Florida State University
Florida State University is a public research university located in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the Florida State University system. It was founded in 1851 and is located in Florida’s oldest continuous higher education institution.
Florida State University has a selective acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 25%. Half of the applicants admitted to Florida State University have SAT scores between 1200 and 1340, or ACT scores between 26 and 30. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 3rd position in both rankings.
#7. New College of Florida
The New College of Florida is a public liberal arts honors college located in Sarasota, Florida. It was established as a private school, it took several years to merge into the University of South Florida and became an autonomous college in 2001, which is the 11th independent school in the Florida State University system.
Florida New College has a selective acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 74% and an early acceptance rate of 86.1%. Half of the applicants admitted to the Florida New College have SAT scores between 1180 and 1360, or ACT scores between 25 and 31. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 12th and 39th positions respectively.
#8. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida is a public research university located in the unregistered Orange County in Florida. It is part of the Florida State University system. It has nearly 72,000 students and currently has the largest student body in the United States.
The University of Central Florida has a very picky acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 43%. Half of the applicants admitted by UCF have SAT scores between 1170 and 1340, or ACT scores between 25 and 30. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 4th in both rankings.
#9. University of Florida
The University of Florida is a public research university located in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the Florida State University system, with a history dating back to 1853, and has been operating continuously on its Gainesville campus since September 1906.
The University of Florida has a very selective acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 23%. Half of the applicants admitted to the University of Florida have SAT scores between 1310 and 1470, or ACT scores between 28 and 33. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 1st position in both rankings.
#10. University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in the city of Jacksonville. It is part of the Florida State University system and fully accredited Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
The University of North Florida has a somewhat selective acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 72%. Half of the applicants admitted to the University of North Florida have SAT scores between 1090 and 1260, or ACT scores between 20 and 25.
#11. University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is a public research university with campuses located in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota, Florida. The main campus is located in Tampa. It is one of the 12 academic institutions that are members of the Florida State University system.
The acceptance rate of the University of South Florida is even higher, with an acceptance rate of 41%. Half of the applicants admitted to the University of South Florida have SAT scores between 1170 and 1330, or ACT scores between 25 and 29. On the ranking list of public universities and among other private universities in Florida the school takes the 2nd position in both rankings.
#12. University of West Florida
The University of West Florida is a public university located in the city of Pensacola, in the state of Florida. Founded in 1963, the university is part of the Florida State University system and is located on the third-largest campus in the state university system, covering an area of 1,600 acres.
The University of West Florida has a very selective acceptance rate, with an acceptance rate of 48%. Half of the applicants admitted to the University of West Florida have SAT scores between 1060 and 1230, or ACT scores between 22 and 27.
List of Public Universities in Florida Ranking
This ranking has been compiled according to how recognized platforms like the USnews, and Niche have ranked these universities.
Below is a list of the ranking of the 12 public universities in Florida
| University | Public Uni. Rank | General Rank |
| University of Florida | 1st | 1st |
| University of South Florida | 2nd | 2nd |
| Florida State University | 3rd | 3rd |
| University of Central Florida | 4th | 4th |
| Florida International University | 5th | 5th |
| Florida Atlantic University | 6th | 7th |
| University of North Florida | 7th | 10th |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 8th | 11th |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 9th | 15th |
| University of West Florida | 10th | 14th |
| Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University | 11th | 19th |
| New College of Florida | 12th | 39th |
Frequently Asked Questions about Public Universities in Florida
How many public universities are in Florida?
The State University System of Florida established in 1905 comprises twelve public universities. It has a large student enrolment of over 450,000 students as of the fall of 2023.
What is the cheapest public college in Florida?
The list of very affordable colleges in Florida includes Santa Fe College, University of Florida, Florida State University, Florida Gateway College, Gulf Coast State College, and Florida State College at Jacksonville.
What is the easiest Florida university to get into?
Universities in Florida that are easy to get into with less competitive acceptance rates are Albizu University, Ana G. Mendez University, St. Thomas University, and Bethune-Cookman University.
What is the oldest public university in Florida?
Established in 1853, the University of Florida in Gainesville is the oldest public university in the Sunshine State.
What are the tuition costs for public universities in Florida?
Tuition varies across Florida’s public universities but generally, in-state undergraduates pay around %6,000 to $7,000 per year. Out-of-state students pay higher than these amounts.
