Colleges in Florida With High Acceptance Rates | BestColleges (2024)

Find out which Florida colleges have the highest acceptance rates, including colleges that admit 100% of all applicants.

By

Jordan Stewart-Rozema, Ph.D.Read Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Jordan Stewart-Rozema writes data-driven education content focusing on higher education trends, student finances, and alternative education pathways such as coding bootcamps. She previously worked to promote online learning and media literacy educati...

Published on October 24, 2023

Edited by

Margaret WeinholdRead Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Margaret Weinhold is an associate editor for BestColleges, where she focuses on core content. She is passionate about increasing visibility and accessibility around higher education. Margaret holds a BA in English from the University of Virginia....

Reviewed by

Stephanie DeBordRead Full Bio

Reviewer & Writer

Stephanie DeBord has spent the past eight years working in higher education. She has held various academic advising roles, and she currently works as a quality assurance manager at the College Credit in High School program at the Metropolitan State U...

Learn more about our editorial process

By

Jordan Stewart-Rozema, Ph.D.Read Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Jordan Stewart-Rozema writes data-driven education content focusing on higher education trends, student finances, and alternative education pathways such as coding bootcamps. She previously worked to promote online learning and media literacy educati...

Edited by

Margaret WeinholdRead Full Bio

Editor & Writer

Margaret Weinhold is an associate editor for BestColleges, where she focuses on core content. She is passionate about increasing visibility and accessibility around higher education. Margaret holds a BA in English from the University of Virginia....

Reviewed by

Stephanie DeBordRead Full Bio

Reviewer & Writer

Stephanie DeBord has spent the past eight years working in higher education. She has held various academic advising roles, and she currently works as a quality assurance manager at the College Credit in High School program at the Metropolitan State U...

Published on October 24, 2023

Learn more about our editorial process

www.bestcolleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Take our quiz and we'll do the homework for you! Compare your school matches and apply to your top choice today.

  • Ten four-year colleges in Florida have acceptance rates of 80% or higher.
  • Four Florida schools admit over 90% of all applicants.
  • Florida's public community colleges accept 100% of applicants and award bachelor's degrees.
  • It's still important to submit strong applications to schools with high acceptance rates.

Is applying for college stressing you out? Take some of the pressure off by applying to Florida colleges with the highest acceptance rates.

While the hardest schools to get into in Florida accept only 1 in 5 students, the easiest Florida schools to get into accept at least 4 out of 5. And some colleges even accept anyone who applies.

Learn which Florida schools top the list of colleges with the highest acceptance rates and find out how you can boost your odds of admission below.

Featured Online Bachelor's Programs

10 Florida Colleges With the Highest Acceptance Rates

Ten four-year Florida colleges have admission rates over 80%. And if you want a really sure bet when applying, one private college in Florida actually admits 100% of all prospective students.

  • Ana G. Mendez University: 100%
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University: 95%
  • Stetson University: 94%
  • Florida Institute of Technology-Online: 92%
  • Bethune-Cookman University: 85%
  • Edward Waters University: 84%
  • Flagler College: 81%
  • Florida Atlantic University: 81%
  • Lynn University: 80%
  • Saint Leo University: 80%

List of All Colleges in Florida With High Acceptance Rates

We've created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit universities in Florida with acceptance rates of 50% and higher. You can use the table below to compare data on acceptance rates, number of applicants, and median SAT/ACT scores.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2022. Schools with fewer than 500 undergraduates were not included in this list.

Colleges in Florida With High Acceptance Rates
SchoolAcceptance RateNumber of ApplicantsMedian SAT/ACT Score
Ana G. Mendez University100%N/AN/A
Palm Beach Atlantic University95%6,220SAT: 1110
ACT: 23
Stetson University94%7,344SAT: 1190
ACT: 26
Florida Institute of Technology-Online92%113N/A
Bethune-Cookman University85%12,818SAT: 900
ACT: 16
Edward Waters University84%8,988N/A
Flagler College81%5,416SAT: 1140
ACT: 25
Florida Atlantic University81%24,268SAT: 1110
ACT: 22
Lynn University80%7,843SAT: 1100
ACT: 24
Saint Leo University80%6,928SAT: 1080
ACT: 23
Nova Southeastern University76%16,789SAT: 1170
ACT: 23
New College of Florida75%1,830SAT: 1230
ACT: 26
Florida Gulf Coast University74%15,657SAT: 1110
ACT: 22
University of North Florida71%19,744SAT: 1110
ACT: 21
Everglades University70%779N/A
Florida Memorial University70%11,931N/A
Eckerd College65%5,549SAT: 1230
ACT: 26
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach65%9,875SAT: 1230
ACT: 26
Ringling College of Art and Design65%2,462N/A
St. Thomas University65%7,520N/A
University of Florida Online65%1,499SAT: 1320
ACT: 29
Florida Institute of Technology64%13,941SAT: 1210
ACT: 25
Florida International University64%17,343SAT: 1150
ACT: 24
Southeastern University61%2,182N/A
Barry University60%13,225N/A
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide58%1,668SAT: 1220
ACT: 27
Jacksonville University58%9,119SAT: 1150
ACT: 24
Florida Southern College57%11,120SAT: 1180
ACT: 26
Florida Polytechnic University56%2,779SAT: 1280
ACT: 28
Warner University55%1,372SAT: 960
ACT: 18
Beacon College52%416N/A
Rollins College50%9,022SAT: 1250
ACT: 27

How Does Open Admission Work in Florida?

Schools with open admissions policies typically admit anyone who applies, as long as they have a high school diploma or GED certificate. You don't need to meet a GPA threshold or submit standardized test scores to get in.

Like in many other states, Florida's 50 community colleges — public, two-year colleges that primarily award associate degrees — all have an open admissions policy. Hoping to get a bachelor's degree at an open admission school? You're in luck — unlike many other states, Florida allows its community colleges to offer bachelor's programs.

Some private four-year colleges in Florida also follow an open admissions policy, like Ana G. Mendez University.

Colleges With Open Admission in Florida

All 28 schools in the Florida College System have open admissions policies.

  • Broward College
  • Chipola College
  • College of Central Florida
  • Daytona State College
  • Eastern Florida State College
  • Florida Gateway College
  • The College of the Florida Keys
  • Florida SouthWestern State College
  • Florida State College at Jacksonville
  • Gulf Coast State College
  • Hillsborough Community College
  • Indian River State College
  • Lake-Sumter State College
  • Miami Dade College
  • North Florida College
  • Northwest Florida State College
  • Palm Beach State College
  • Pasco-Hernando State College
  • Pensacola State College
  • Polk State College
  • St. Johns River State College
  • St. Petersburg College
  • Santa Fe College
  • Seminole State College of Florida
  • South Florida State College
  • State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
  • Tallahassee Community College
  • Valencia College

How to Boost Your Florida College Admission Odds

For peace of mind, you should still aim to have a strong college application even if the school has a high acceptance rate.

Here are a few ways to make sure you have the best odds of getting in:

  • See if the school considers letters of recommendation and ask close teachers, coaches, or mentors to write on your behalf.
  • Avoid common college application mistakes such as missing deadlines.
  • Write a compelling college application essay or personal statement if the school gives you the option to include one in your application. Submitting an essay when others don't is an easy way to stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acceptance Rates for Florida Colleges

What colleges in Florida have a 100% acceptance rate?

The 28 schools in the Florida College System all have a 100% acceptance rate thanks to their open admissions policies. Some popular options in this system include North Florida College, Miami Dade College, and Florida Gateway College. Florida's community colleges also have open admissions policies.

What Florida college is the easiest to get into?

Colleges in Florida that have an open admissions policy are the easiest to get into as they accept all applicants with a high school diploma or GED certificate. Community colleges in Florida all have a 100% admission rate and award bachelor's degrees as well as associate degrees.

What is the hardest college to get into in Florida?

The University of Miami is the hardest college to get into in Florida. As of 2022, the school accepted only 19% of applicants, according to NCES data. First-time students had a median SAT score of 1390 and an ACT score of 32. The school also requires a personal statement and recommendation letters.

Is the University of Florida hard to get into?

The University of Florida has a 23% acceptance rate, according to 2022 NCES data, which means it may be challenging to get into. The median SAT score of enrolled first-time students was 1390 in 2022, and the median ACT score was 31.

Is FSU hard to get into?

Florida State University (FSU) may be hard to get into depending on your high school GPA, standardized test scores, and other facets of your application.

FSU accepted 25% of all applicants in 2022, according to NCES data. Enrolled first-time students had median SAT/ACT scores of 1290 and 29, respectively.

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Compare Your School Options

View the most relevant schools for your interests and compare them by tuition, programs, acceptance rate, and other factors important to finding your college home.

Colleges in Florida With High Acceptance Rates | BestColleges (2024)

FAQs

What university has the highest acceptance rate in Florida? ›

List of All Colleges in Florida With High Acceptance Rates
SchoolAcceptance RateMedian SAT/ACT Score
Stetson University94%SAT: 1190 ACT: 26
Florida Institute of Technology-Online92%N/A
Bethune-Cookman University85%SAT: 900 ACT: 16
Edward Waters University84%N/A
28 more rows
Oct 24, 2023

What is the #1 college in Florida? ›

The University of Florida, or UF, is located in Gainesville. A beautiful city in northern Florida, Gainesville is best known for UF—that means it's a fun college town! UF alone has 55,000 students, making it a very large university, and UF students are everywhere in Gainesville.

Are there colleges with 100% acceptance rates? ›

Located in Lawton, Oklahoma, Cameron University features a 100% acceptance rate and serves more than 5,500 undergraduate and graduate students each year. A private nonprofit university dating back to 1908, CU now offers nearly 50 two-year, four-year, and graduate degrees.

What college has a 7% acceptance rate? ›

Top 100 - Lowest Acceptance Rates
SchoolLocationFall 2022 Acceptance Rate
Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL7%
Pomona CollegeClaremont, CA7%
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA7%
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA7%
17 more rows

What's the easiest college to get into in Florida? ›

The easiest colleges to get into in Florida are Broward College, Indian River State College, Keiser University – Fort Lauderdale, College of Central Florida, and Herzing University – Orlando. These universities focus less on past academic performance and more on providing quality education to all students.

What is the hardest school to get into in Florida? ›

Here are the Florida colleges and universities with the lowest admission rates in 2021
  • University of Miami — 28%
  • University of Florida — 30%
  • Florida A&M University — 35%
  • University of Central Florida — 36%
  • Florida State University — 37%
  • DeVry University-Florida — 41%
  • Johnson University-Florida — 42%
Nov 18, 2023

Is UF or FSU better? ›

UF is generally considered to be a little more academically prestigious and has stronger programs in engineering, business, and the sciences. FSU is known for its programs in the arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Is UF or FiU better? ›

The University of Florida ranked as #15 overall, and #1 out of only the public institutions. Florida International University secured the fourth spot in terms of public universities, and the 29th spot out of the 400 public and private universities.

Is UF hard to get into? ›

The acceptance rate at University of Florida is 30.1%.

For every 100 applicants, 30 are admitted. This means the school is very selective.

What is the easiest but best college to get into? ›

Some of the colleges with the highest acceptance rates areArkansas Baptist College, Kentucky State University and Haskell Indian Nations University, all of which have acceptance rates of 100%.

What University has a 90% acceptance rate? ›

Marshall University, the University of New Mexico, Kansas State University, and the University of Maine all have acceptance rates of over 90%.

Is going to a college with a high acceptance rate bad? ›

Once again, there's no such thing as a good or bad acceptance rate for a school! Less competitive schools often have acceptance rates above 50%. And remember, colleges with high acceptance rates can be a great fit for some students.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into? ›

Niche, a ranking and review site, recently published its list of the “2023 Hardest Colleges to Get Into.” Using data from the U.S. Department of Education on various colleges' acceptance rates and SAT/ACT scores, they found, unsurprisingly, Harvard University to be the most difficult college to get into.

What GPA is required for Harvard? ›

In truth, you need close to a 4.0 unweighted GPA to get into Harvard. That means nearly straight As in every class while also taking the highest rigor classes available at your high school.

What is Florida Gators' acceptance rate? ›

What is the acceptance rate for UF? Florida admissions is very selective with an acceptance rate of 23%. Students that get into Florida have an average SAT score between 1300-1490 or an average ACT score of 28-33. The regular admissions application deadline for Florida is November 1.

What university has a 90% acceptance rate? ›

Marshall University, the University of New Mexico, Kansas State University, and the University of Maine all have acceptance rates of over 90%.

What is the lowest GPA to get into UF? ›

UF considers all aspects of a student's application, background and qualifications when making admissions decisions.
  • GPA. 4.4-4.6.
  • SAT. 1350-1490.
  • ACT. 30-34.

Is it harder to get into UF or Harvard? ›

Is Harvard University or University of Florida (UF) Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then Harvard University is more difficult to get into.

What is the lowest rated university in Florida? ›

The University of North Florida finished worst among state universities in this year's ranking that determines state performance funding.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Last Updated:

Views: 5680

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Lawanda Wiegand

Birthday: 1993-01-10

Address: Suite 391 6963 Ullrich Shore, Bellefort, WI 01350-7893

Phone: +6806610432415

Job: Dynamic Manufacturing Assistant

Hobby: amateur radio, Taekwondo, Wood carving, Parkour, Skateboarding, Running, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.