# Easiest Colleges to Get Into in Florida (2026)

> The 15 Florida colleges with the highest acceptance rates, with graduation rate and net price for each. Verified IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/blog/easiest-colleges-to-get-into-in-florida
- Category: Admissions Advice
- Author: CollegesRef Editorial
- Published: 2026-11-03
- Updated: 2026-11-04
- Data guide: figures are built only from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data.

The Florida colleges with the highest acceptance rates are St. Thomas University-Florida, Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, and Bethune-Cookman University. Florida is more selective than most states. Its 30 qualifying colleges have a median acceptance rate of 61%, 17 percentage points under the national median, so the schools below are the most accessible options in a competitive market. Each row also lists graduation rate and net price, which matters here: the most accessible half of the list has a median graduation rate of 47%, against 62% for the remaining schools.

## Florida colleges with the highest acceptance rates

| # | College | City | Acceptance rate | Graduation rate | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [St. Thomas University-Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-thomas-university-florida-2586) | Miami Gardens | 98% | 28% | $26,153 |
| 2 | [Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/keiser-university-ft-lauderdale-1373) | Fort Lauderdale | 97% | 58% | $32,640 |
| 3 | [Bethune-Cookman University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bethune-cookman-university-243) | Daytona Beach | 88% | 34% | $13,059 |
| 4 | [Palm Beach Atlantic University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/palm-beach-atlantic-university-2066) | West Palm Beach | 82% | 53% | $28,724 |
| 5 | [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Boca Raton | 81% | 58% | $29,825 |
| 6 | [Flagler College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/flagler-college-961) | Saint Augustine | 81% | 52% | $31,717 |
| 7 | [Saint Leo University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-leo-university-2309) | Saint Leo | 78% | 42% | $24,658 |
| 8 | [Barry University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/barry-university-183) | Miami | 77% | 39% | $22,902 |
| 9 | [Lynn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lynn-university-1561) | Boca Raton | 73% | 57% | $43,806 |
| 10 | [Nova Southeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nova-southeastern-university-1975) | Fort Lauderdale | 73% | 62% | $27,714 |
| 11 | [Stetson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stetson-university-2603) | DeLand | 72% | 60% | $22,521 |
| 12 | [Florida Atlantic University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-atlantic-university-967) | Boca Raton | 66% | 64% | $10,394 |
| 13 | [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach-908) | Daytona Beach | 65% | 68% | $40,539 |
| 14 | [Florida Southern College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-southern-college-982) | Lakeland | 64% | 68% | $26,211 |
| 15 | [Florida Gulf Coast University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-gulf-coast-university-976) | Fort Myers | 63% | 57% | $11,555 |

## Florida has higher sticker prices and is more selective than most states

30 Florida colleges enroll at least 2,000 students and report both an acceptance rate and a graduation rate: 10 public colleges and 20 private nonprofit. Before aid, the full cost of attendance has a median of $50,367, above the $31,674 nationally. The median college here admits 61% of applicants, 17 percentage points below the national median of 78%. After grants, the median net price is $25,406, pricier than the $18,210 national median.

| Measure | Florida | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Median acceptance rate | 61% | 78% |
| Colleges admitting 90% or more | 7% | 21% |
| Public share of colleges | 33% | 58% |
| In-state tuition at publics (median) | $6,364 | $10,574 |
| Out-of-state tuition at publics (median) | $20,160 | $22,276 |
| Nonresident tuition premium (median) | $14,022 | $12,411 |
| Average net price after grants (median) | $25,406 | $18,210 |
| Cost of attendance before aid (median) | $50,367 | $31,674 |
| Six-year graduation rate (median) | 60% | 61% |
| Earnings ten years after entry (median) | $60,214 | $63,391 |
| Undergraduates with Pell Grants (median) | 33% | 34% |

Among the 15 colleges in the table, six-year graduation rates run from 28% at St. Thomas University-Florida to 68% at Florida Southern College, a wide spread of 40 percentage points. Their median of 57% trails the 60% for all Florida colleges in scope, so the easiest admits here are not the strongest finishers.

On admission, private colleges are the more open sector here, admitting a median 72% against 48% at publics. No Florida public college in scope admits 75% of applicants; the most open is [Florida Atlantic University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-atlantic-university-967) (about 23,757 students, 66% admitted).

## Key takeaways

- Selectivity varies widely even within this list: St. Thomas University-Florida admits 98% while Florida Gulf Coast University admits 63%, a gap of 34 percentage points. The last school admits fewer applicants than the 78% national median.
- Florida Atlantic University, a public school, is the largest campus here at about 23,757 students and ranks 12th, while the smallest school on the list enrolls about 2,212.
- The list spans 11 cities, with Boca Raton, Daytona Beach, and Fort Lauderdale each hosting more than one school.
- Private colleges take more of the list than their share of the state would suggest: 13 of 15 spots, against 67% of the qualifying pool.

## Where Florida's high-admit private colleges sit on cost

Four years of average net price, a rough total for a student who receives grants and finishes on time, comes to about $41,576 at Florida Atlantic University, $104,844 at the median school on this list, and $175,224 at Lynn University; with a list median graduation rate of 57%, it is worth pricing a fifth year at the schools with weaker completion. A dependent student can borrow at most $27,000 in federal Direct Loans over four years ([studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized)); at St. Thomas University-Florida that leaves about $77,612 of the four-year net price to cover another way, nearly as much again as the federal limit, and no school in the table comes in under that ceiling, so every option here needs savings, work, or other borrowing on top of federal loans.

| College | Four years at avg. net price | Four years of in-state tuition | Four years of out-of-state tuition | Pell Grant recipients | Median earnings (10 yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [St. Thomas University-Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/st-thomas-university-florida-2586) | $104,612 | $143,120 | $143,120 | 30% | $58,912 |
| [Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/keiser-university-ft-lauderdale-1373) | $130,560 | $104,064 | $104,064 | 61% | $46,472 |
| [Bethune-Cookman University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bethune-cookman-university-243) | $52,236 | $59,176 | $59,176 | 84% | $42,476 |
| [Palm Beach Atlantic University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/palm-beach-atlantic-university-2066) | $114,896 | $169,000 | $169,000 | 28% | $55,772 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | $119,300 | $89,600 | $89,600 | 69% | $48,760 |

Bethune-Cookman University has the largest share of Pell Grant recipients in the table (84% of undergraduates), so its average net price already reflects many lower-income students; the maximum Pell Grant for 2026-27 is $7,395 ([studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell)). Without grants, four years of tuition alone comes to $19,516 at Florida Atlantic University and $238,760 at Stetson University, before housing, food, and books; private sticker prices are where grants change the picture most, so run each school's net price calculator before assuming a family gets nothing. Nonresidents pay a median of $15,745 more a year in tuition at the public schools in the table; only 2 public schools in the table are affected, and the widest gap is at Florida Gulf Coast University, where four years of out-of-state tuition costs $76,176 more than Florida residents pay. Set against earnings, Florida Atlantic University stands out: its former students' median earnings of $61,062 ten years after entry are 1.5 times its four-year net price.

## Sticker prices and net costs at Florida's accessible colleges

The sticker price of a college often bears little resemblance to what a family actually pays. In Florida, this gap is particularly wide. CollegesRef data shows the median cost of attendance before aid at qualifying Florida colleges is $50,367, which sits well above the national median of $31,674. For families looking at schools with high acceptance rates, these high initial prices can cause immediate concern.

Fortunately, grant aid reduces these totals significantly. After accounting for federal, state, and institutional grants, the median net price for Florida colleges drops to $25,406. While this is still higher than the national median net price of $18,210, the reduction shows that private institutions in the state use aid aggressively to attract students. An applicant should never rule out a school based on the published cost of attendance alone.

### How grants lower the bill at specific campuses

At several of the private colleges on this list, generous grant packages cut the published price by more than half. Stetson University has a published cost of attendance of $75,714, yet its average net price after grants is $22,521. This represents a reduction of $53,193 for the average student receiving aid.

A similar pattern exists at Florida Southern College, where the cost of attendance is $61,399 and the average net price is $26,211. At Palm Beach Atlantic University, grants bring a $60,207 cost of attendance down to an average net price of $28,724.

These discounts are not limited to the most expensive schools on the list. Barry University has a cost of attendance of $50,991, which grants reduce to an average net price of $22,902. Nova Southeastern University charges $55,277 before aid, but the average net price is $27,714. Saint Leo University costs $52,024 before aid, which drops to an average net price of $24,658.

### What these price gaps mean for your college list

When building an application list, families must look at how these discounts affect their actual out-of-pocket costs. A high acceptance rate makes a school a reliable academic safety, but it does not guarantee it is a financial safety.

Because the average net price at these schools still hovers between $22,000 and $29,000, students must plan to cover a substantial remaining balance. Federal student loans will not cover the entire difference. A dependent first-year undergraduate can only borrow up to $5,500 in federal Direct Loans, according to studentaid.gov.

If the net price at Barry University is $22,902, a first-year student using the maximum federal loan still faces a gap of $17,402 for that year. Families must cover this remaining amount through parent loans, private loans, savings, or earnings from part-time work.

To find the actual cost for a specific household, an applicant should use the net price calculator on each college's financial aid website. These calculators use family income and asset data to estimate institutional grants. Comparing these estimates across several Florida schools allows a family to build a list that is safe both academically and financially.

## Florida Applicants Face Tougher Odds Than the National Average

Securing a spot at a Florida college requires more strategy than in most other states. While the national median acceptance rate sits at 78% according to CollegesRef data, Florida colleges present a much tighter bottleneck with a median acceptance rate of just 61%. This 17-percentage-point gap means that Florida applicants must look closely at individual school policies to find reliable safety options.

The scarcity of open-door institutions in the Sunshine State is stark. Across the country, 21% of colleges admit 90% or more of their applicants, providing a wide safety net for students with varying academic profiles. In Florida, only 7% of colleges meet this highly accessible threshold. For students who need a guaranteed option on their list, the search is narrow.

### The Two Private Exceptions Admitting Nearly Everyone

Only two major colleges in Florida offer near-universal admission to applicants. St. Thomas University-Florida leads the state with a 98% acceptance rate, followed closely by Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale at 97%. Both are private institutions.

While these high acceptance rates offer peace of mind during the application phase, they come with trade-offs in cost and completion. St. Thomas University-Florida reports a graduation rate of 28% and an average net price of $26,153. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale fares better on completion with a 58% graduation rate, but its average net price rises to $32,640. Families must weigh the ease of getting in against the financial commitment and the statistical likelihood of walking across the graduation stage.

### Public Versus Private Admission Paths

The selectivity gap in Florida is heavily driven by its public university system. Florida's public colleges are highly competitive, posting a median acceptance rate of just 48%. This makes the state's public sector one of the more selective in the country. Students targeting public tuition rates cannot assume any state university is a safe bet. Even the most accessible public option on the list, Florida Atlantic University, admits only 66% of its applicants.

In contrast, Florida's private colleges offer a much more receptive path. The median acceptance rate for private colleges in the state is 72%. This 24-percentage-point difference between the public and private sectors means that students looking for easier admission will find their best odds at private campuses.

This structural difference changes how a student should build a Florida college list. A balanced list cannot rely solely on public universities as backup options. An applicant with average test scores or a modest GPA must look to private colleges like Palm Beach Atlantic University, which admits 82%, or Saint Leo University, which admits 78%, to secure a reliable fallback.

Relying on private schools for safety requires early financial planning. Because these institutions carry higher sticker prices, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, as early as possible to see if institutional grants can bring the net price down to a manageable level. Without significant aid, the easier path to admission at a private Florida college can quickly turn into a heavy financial burden.

## Florida Net Prices Range From Under $11,000 to Over $43,000

Families looking at accessible Florida colleges must look past acceptance rates to see what students actually pay after receiving grants and scholarships. The average net price represents the real cost of tuition, fees, books, housing, and food after all federal, state, and institutional aid is subtracted from the sticker price. In Florida, this real cost varies by tens of thousands of dollars depending on whether a student chooses a public university or a private campus.

According to CollegesRef data, the median net price across all 15 colleges on this high-acceptance list is $26,211. This figure sits above the national median net price of $18,210 for similar institutions, making Florida a relatively expensive state for students who need to stretch their higher education dollars.

### The Most Affordable Options on the List

Three institutions stand out for keeping their average net prices well below the state and national medians. Florida Atlantic University offers the lowest net price on the list at $10,394, followed closely by Florida Gulf Coast University at $11,555. Both of these are public universities, where state subsidies help keep costs down for residents.

The most affordable private option is Bethune-Cookman University, which reports an average net price of $13,059. Because 84% of undergraduates at Bethune-Cookman University receive federal Pell Grants, the institution's net price is heavily influenced by federal aid designed for lower-income households. For students who qualify for the maximum Federal Pell Grant of $7,395, these three institutions represent the most viable pathways to earning a degree without accumulating massive debt.

### High-Cost Private Options and the Funding Gap

At the other end of the spectrum, several private universities on this list charge net prices that exceed what many families can afford without heavy borrowing. Lynn University has the highest net price on the list at $43,806. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach is the second most expensive with a net price of $40,539, while Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale ranks third highest at $32,640.

These high net prices create a substantial funding gap when compared to federal student aid limits. Undergraduates who are dependent on their parents can borrow a maximum of $5,500 in federal Direct Loans during their first year, and no more than $27,000 in total over four years. A student attending Lynn University faces a four-year net cost of $175,224, leaving a gap of $148,224 that must be covered by family savings, private scholarships, work-study earnings, or parent loans.

Even at Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, where the four-year net price totals $130,560, the federal student loan limit leaves over $103,000 unfunded. Families must carefully evaluate whether the high acceptance rates at these private institutions justify the long-term debt required to complete a degree, especially when the median graduation rate for the entire 15-school list is just 57%. Applying to a mix of public and private schools allows an applicant to compare financial aid award letters side by side before making a final commitment.

## Florida's public options offer lower costs but higher admission hurdles

Public universities make up 33% of the qualifying colleges in Florida, a smaller footprint than the 58% share they hold nationwide. For families searching for accessible options, this smaller public sector means fewer high-admit state schools. In fact, only two of the fifteen colleges on the high-acceptance list are public institutions. The rest of the list consists entirely of private nonprofit colleges, which generally carry much higher sticker prices before financial aid is applied.

An applicant looking at the public sector will find that the two qualifying schools differ significantly in size, though they share similar admission profiles. Florida Atlantic University, located in Boca Raton, is the largest campus on the entire list. It enrolls about 23,757 students and admits 66% of those who apply. Florida Gulf Coast University, situated in Fort Myers, is smaller but still substantial, enrolling about 13,874 students and admitting 63% of applicants.

### Balancing admission odds against graduation outcomes

A student deciding where to apply must weigh the ease of getting in against the likelihood of finishing a degree. Florida Atlantic University reports a 64% graduation rate, while Florida Gulf Coast University has a 57% graduation rate. Both schools outperform the 47% median graduation rate found among the most accessible half of the colleges on the Florida list.

These public options present a stark contrast to some of the private schools with higher acceptance rates. For example, St. Thomas University-Florida admits 98% of applicants but graduates only 28% of its students. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale admits 97% but has a 58% graduation rate. A student who chooses Florida Atlantic University faces a more competitive admissions process, with a 66% acceptance rate, but enters an institution where nearly two-thirds of students successfully complete their degrees within six years.

### The financial reality of public versus private choices

The financial implications of these public options are critical for families planning their budgets. Florida Atlantic University has an average net price of $10,394, and Florida Gulf Coast University stands at $11,555. These net prices are substantially lower than those of the private colleges on the list, such as Palm Beach Atlantic University at $28,724 or Everglades University at $29,825.

A dependent student can borrow a maximum of $5,500 in federal Direct Loans during their first year, as outlined by studentaid.gov. This federal loan limit does not cover the full net price at any school on the list, but it goes much further at the two public universities. At Florida Atlantic University, the remaining annual net price after a first-year federal loan is under $5,000, a gap that a student might cover through part-time work or modest family savings. At a private school like Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, where the average net price is $32,640, the gap after the same federal loan exceeds $27,000 for a single year. This massive difference forces families to rely heavily on private loans, parent borrowing, or substantial personal assets. For Florida residents, the two public universities on this list represent the most financially viable pathways to a degree, provided the student can meet their slightly more selective admission standards.

## Campus size ranges from massive public universities to intimate private colleges

Florida colleges in this cohort fall into distinct size categories. Six institutions enroll 20,000 or more students, eleven host between 5,000 and 20,000, and thirteen operate with smaller student bodies. This division shapes the daily experience of an applicant. A student must decide whether they want the vast resources of a major research hub or the close-knit community of a liberal arts campus.

### The giants of the high-admit list

Two public institutions and one private university dominate the upper end of the enrollment spectrum on this list. Florida Atlantic University is the largest campus among these accessible options, enrolling about 23,757 students while maintaining a 66% acceptance rate. Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale follows as the second-largest on the list, with about 17,678 students and a highly accessible 97% acceptance rate. Florida Gulf Coast University rounds out the largest trio, enrolling about 13,874 students and admitting 63% of those who apply.

Large enrollments often translate to broader course catalogs, extensive alumni networks, and more campus housing options. At Florida Atlantic University, the sheer scale of the student body supports diverse academic departments and student services. This scale, however, requires students to be self-directed. In a lecture hall with hundreds of peers, an undergraduate must take the initiative to visit a professor during office hours or seek out tutoring services. The lower cost of public giants like Florida Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University makes them highly competitive, keeping their acceptance rates lower than their private counterparts.

### Intimate learning at Florida's smaller private options

At the other end of the spectrum, three private universities offer a much smaller campus environment. Barry University is the smallest school on the list, enrolling about 2,212 students and admitting 77% of applicants. St. Thomas University-Florida is nearly identical in size, with about 2,214 students and a 98% acceptance rate. Stetson University completes the group of smaller schools, enrolling about 2,297 students and admitting 72% of those who apply.

These smaller student bodies change the dynamic between students and faculty. At Stetson University or Barry University, classes are rarely held in massive auditoriums. Professors are more likely to know students by name, which can make it easier to secure letters of recommendation or research opportunities. This personal attention can be a crucial factor in helping students stay on track to graduate.

The trade-off for this intimate environment is often a higher net price. While St. Thomas University-Florida offers a near-certain path to admission with its 98% acceptance rate, families must weigh its $26,153 average net price against the lower net prices of the larger public universities. A student choosing between these environments must balance the financial reality of private tuition against the potential benefits of smaller class sizes and more direct academic support.

## Graduation Rates Reveal Which Accessible Florida Colleges Deliver Degrees

Getting through the front door of a Florida college is only the first step. For families building a balanced application list, the real test of a school is whether its students actually finish their degrees. Across the 15 most accessible colleges in Florida, the median graduation rate is 57%. This figure sits slightly below the 60% median graduation rate for all qualifying Florida colleges, as well as the national median of 61% from CollegesRef data. Choosing a school with a high acceptance rate often means accepting a lower probability of walking across the graduation stage in six years.

A close look at the data shows that some of the easiest schools to get into in Florida struggle to graduate even half of their cohorts. St. Thomas University-Florida, which leads the state with a 98% acceptance rate, has a six-year graduation rate of just 28%. This represents the lowest completion rate on the list. Bethune-Cookman University admits 88% of its applicants but graduates only 34%. Barry University, with a 77% acceptance rate, sees only 39% of its students earn a degree within six years. For an applicant, these numbers mean that entering a highly accessible private college in Florida is far from a guarantee of finishing.

### Where High Acceptance Meets Strong Completion

Students do not have to sacrifice their graduation prospects to find an accessible college in Florida. Several institutions on this list manage to combine open doors with strong student outcomes. Florida Southern College admits 64% of applicants and achieves a 68% graduation rate, matching Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, which also graduates 68% of its students while admitting 65%. Florida Atlantic University, the largest school on the list, admits 66% of applicants and graduates 64%. These three institutions show that certain Florida campuses maintain solid support systems that help students persist through senior year.

The gap between starting college and finishing it is particularly visible when comparing first-year retention to final graduation rates. At St. Thomas University-Florida, 57% of first-year students return for their second year, yet only 28% ultimately graduate. This drop-off of 29 percentage points highlights a critical risk for families. When more than half of the freshmen return but fewer than a third graduate, students are accumulating debt without receiving the earning power of a completed bachelor's degree.

### What Completion Rates Mean for Your College List

When families evaluate these Florida institutions, graduation rates should directly influence how they budget. A low graduation rate often signals that students take longer than four years to finish, or that they drop out entirely after spending thousands of dollars. If a student chooses a school like Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale, which has a 58% graduation rate, or Palm Beach Atlantic University, at 53%, they must plan for the financial possibility of a fifth or sixth year of study.

An applicant should use these graduation figures to balance their list. Applying to a school with a high acceptance rate like St. Thomas University-Florida provides a reliable safety option for admission. However, pairing that application with a school like Florida Southern College or Florida Atlantic University provides a safety net for graduation. Comparing these outcomes ensures that families do not just focus on the excitement of an acceptance letter, but also on the practical reality of earning a degree.

## Building a Balanced Florida Application List From High-Admit Schools

A smart college list balances admission odds against graduation rates and net costs. In Florida, where the median acceptance rate of 61% sits well below the 78% national median, planning this balance is critical. The 15 most accessible colleges in the state do not require reach-school strategies, but they demand careful sorting into likely and possible categories.

### Sorting Florida's accessible options into likely and possible categories

Eight colleges on this list function as likely admits because they accept at least 75% of applicants. St. Thomas University-Florida leads this group with a 98% acceptance rate, followed closely by Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale at 97% and Bethune-Cookman University at 88%. Palm Beach Atlantic University at 82%, Everglades University at 81%, and Flagler College at 81% also provide highly predictable pathways to admission. An applicant with average academic credentials can treat these institutions as reliable safety options for securing a college seat.

Seven colleges on the list fall into the possible category, admitting between 50% and 75% of candidates. These schools require a closer look at academic profiles, though they remain highly accessible. This group includes Lynn University and Nova Southeastern University, which both admit 73% of applicants. Stetson University follows at 72%, while Florida Atlantic University accepts 66%. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach at 65% and Florida Southern College at 64% round out the competitive mid-tier of this accessible list. None of the 15 schools qualify as reach schools with sub-50% acceptance rates, meaning students can focus their energy on comparing costs and completion outcomes rather than worrying about rejection letters.

### Balancing admission odds against graduation rates and net costs

Securing admission is only the first step, as finishing the degree is what actually delivers value. Families must look past high acceptance rates to examine how many students leave with a diploma. Three schools on this list graduate fewer than 40% of their students within six years: St. Thomas University-Florida at 28%, Bethune-Cookman University at 34%, and Barry University at 39%. A high probability of admission at these campuses comes with a statistically higher risk of departing without a credential, which can leave a student with debt but no degree.

To build a resilient list, look for schools that sit below the list median on net price and above it on graduation rate. Florida Atlantic University and Stetson University both clear this hurdle. Florida Atlantic University charges an average net price of $10,394 and graduates 64% of its students. Stetson University, while private, maintains a 60% graduation rate with an average net price of $22,521.

Only two of the 15 colleges on the list are public, which is where Florida residents can utilize in-state tuition rates to keep costs low. Florida Atlantic University and Florida Gulf Coast University represent these public options. For an in-state student, combining a public possible admit like Florida Atlantic University with a private likely admit like Palm Beach Atlantic University creates a strong, balanced application strategy. This approach secures a predictable acceptance while keeping affordable, high-performing public options on the table.

## How this list was built

The 15 colleges here have the highest acceptance rates out of 30 published Florida institutions that enroll at least 2,000 students and report both an acceptance rate and a graduation rate. Another 30 Florida colleges of that size are left out because at least one figure is missing. Figures are unadjusted IPEDS and College Scorecard values ([definitions](https://www.collegesref.com/methodology#definitions), [inclusion rules](https://www.collegesref.com/methodology#inclusion)). National figures apply the same rules to 760 colleges. Four-year totals are one year's figure times four, and aid limits are 2026-27 studentaid.gov amounts.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the easiest college to get into in Florida?

St. Thomas University-Florida, a private nonprofit college, has the highest acceptance rate among Florida colleges with at least 2,000 students, at 98%. Its 28% graduation rate, though, is below the list median of 57%.

### Is it easier to get into college in Florida than in other states?

On average, no. Qualifying Florida colleges have a median acceptance rate of 61%, 17 percentage points lower than the national median of 78%.

### Do colleges with high acceptance rates in Florida have low graduation rates?

In this state, somewhat. The most accessible half of the list has a median graduation rate of 47%, compared with 62% for the other half. The strongest graduation rate (68%) belongs to Florida Southern College, which sits in the lower half of the ranking at 14th.

### Are the easiest colleges in Florida public or private?

Mostly private: only 2 of the 15 schools on this list are public. The most accessible school overall is private, St. Thomas University-Florida (98%); the top public option is Florida Atlantic University (66%).

## Keep researching

- [Colleges in Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/state/florida)
- [Most affordable colleges in Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/most-affordable-colleges-in-florida-by-net-price)
- [Net price gap by state](https://www.collegesref.com/data/net-price-gap-by-state)
- [How CollegesRef matches similar colleges](https://www.collegesref.com/methodology)

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid ([studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/))

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/blog/easiest-colleges-to-get-into-in-florida. When citing a figure, include the data year stated next to it.