collageThe Sunshine State has a lot going on. You’ve got the beaches, you’ve got the theme parks and did we mention that it’s home to some of the best universities in America? It’s true! With its warm weather, sun-drenched beaches and beautiful campus locations, Florida is one of the most popular states for higher education. If you’re looking for an affordable college degree with an idyllic location near water and sunshine,
Best Colleges In Florida Near The Beach
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
The University of North Florida, Jacksonville is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. It was founded in 1963 as a branch campus of Florida State University. The school is the second largest university in the state with over 24,000 students enrolled as of spring 2017 (data from US Department of Education).
The school has nine colleges offering more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across seven academic divisions: Business; Education & Health Sciences; Engineering & Computer Science; Liberal Arts & Sciences; Nursing; Public Administration & Social Work; Visual Art & Design
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of South Florida, Tampa is a public research university located in Tampa, Florida. Its main campus spans 240 acres (97 ha) adjacent to the Hillsborough River[8] and is served by the TECO Line streetcar system.
The University of South Florida was chartered in 1956 as part of an effort to expand access to higher education for people in the state of Florida. It was established as a coeducational institution. In 2006, USF began offering doctoral degrees for its first time.
New College of Florida
New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college located in Sarasota, Florida. The school was founded in 1965 as a non-profit institution by educator and author Edward J. Nell. New College was originally established on the grounds of what today is Englewood High School, but moved to its current location—which includes several buildings and sites spread out across three miles (5 km) in 1990.
New College participates in NCAA Division II athletics competing in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country running, golf, rowing and soccer while women’s sports include basketball, cross country running track & field), golf softball rowing soccer tennis volleyball waterpolo
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Atlantic University is a public university located in Boca Raton, Florida. Serving over 40,000 students, it has over 400 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
The school was founded in 1961 as Florida Atlantic University of the State University System of Florida, but changed its name to FAU in 2007. It is ranked the 9th best public university in Florida by U.S News & World Report’s 2020 rankings and draws students from around the world for its academic excellence and beautiful setting on Florida’s Gold Coast beachfront.
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Central Florida (UCF), located in Orlando, Florida, is a public research university that focuses on undergraduate education. Established as Florida Technological University in 1963, its name was changed to the University of Central Florida in 1978 and its current enrollment exceeds 60,000 students. UCF’s academic offerings include more than 240 undergraduate degree programs and over 100 graduate degree programs across six colleges:
Of note for aspiring entrepreneurs is the school’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program that encourages undergraduates to get involved with faculty members’ research projects. The university also has an honors program open to high-achieving students who want a more challenging curriculum with smaller class sizes.
Daytona College, Daytona Beach
Daytona College, located in Daytona Beach, is a private institution. Students can choose from a variety of bachelor’s degree programs.
The college is relatively small with an enrollment of only 4,955 students, and the school has a student/faculty ratio of 15:1. The campus itself has been recognized for its beauty and features lush green lawns and blooming flowers throughout the year.
Bethune-Cookman University, Daytona Beach
Founded in 1904, Bethune-Cookman University is a private university in Daytona Beach, Florida. It has an undergraduate enrollment of 6,000 students and a student to faculty ratio of 16:1. It has a 74% graduation rate.
Tallahassee Community College, Tallahassee
Florida’s capital city is home to Tallahassee Community College, one of the 20 best colleges in Florida near the beach. TCC has a total enrollment of over 11,000 students and offers over 90 programs at both its main campus and satellite campuses. The school’s athletics program fields nine intercollegiate teams (six men’s teams and three women’s teams), including baseball, basketball, cross country running, soccer, volleyball and softball.
The school also hosts more than 200 student organizations that cater to different interests like diversity awareness or gaming club. TCC has an active Greek life community with two fraternities (Alpha Tau Omega and Kappa Sigma) and five sororities (Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority Inc., Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority Inc., Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity Inc., Sigma Lambda Gamma Professional Corporation).
The average class size is 22 students but this can vary depending on program level: lower division classes tend to be smaller while upper division classes typically have more students enrolled. If you’re looking for a small college environment where professors know your name then consider applying!
Tallahassee Community College does not require SAT or ACT scores for admission; instead they use their own assessment test called the ACCUPLACER exam which tests reading comprehension skills punctuation usage sentence structure etcetera..
Broward College, Fort Lauderdale
Broward College is a public community college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school was founded in 1959 as Broward Junior College, and it has grown to have more than 64,000 students enrolled.
Broward College is part of the Florida Community College system and offers associate degree programs for transfer to four-year universities. There are more than 70 degrees available at Broward College!
Barry University, Miami Shores
Barry University is a private, not-for-profit, Catholic university in Miami Shores, Florida. It was founded as Barry College by the Felician Sisters in 1940. It offers education at the undergraduate and graduate levels through various colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences; The Graduate School; The School of Education; The Thomas J. White International Business School;; and The John D. Tigert Honors College (Tigert). Barry University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees
Broward Vocational Schools, Fort Lauderdale
Broward Vocational Schools, Fort Lauderdale is a community college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a student population of over 40,000 and offers courses in the fields of business, engineering and health care. The college also has a campus in Hollywood.
Valencia College, Orlando
Valencia College is a public college in Orlando, Florida. The university is part of the State University System of Florida and it has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1967.
Indian River State College, Fort Pierce
Indian River State College is located in Fort Pierce, Florida. Indian River State College is a public institution that was founded in 1969 and offers a variety of programs including:
- Associate’s degrees
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Graduate degrees
Indian River State College has over 10,000 students enrolled at the college and 2,100 faculty members teaching classes. The college has an 18 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio on average.
Middleburg Beauty School Inc., Middleburg
Middleburg Beauty School Inc. is a cosmetology school located in Middleburg, Florida. It’s a private for-profit school with an associate’s degree program. The school offers the following programs:
- Cosmetology/Cosmetologist
- Hair Stylist & Hairdresser
Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale
Nova Southeastern University is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning. The university is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and has a total of 12 colleges and schools.
The university offers programs ranging from associate degrees to doctoral degrees, including online classes. Some of the top programs include the following: Criminal Justice; Clinical Psychology; Early Childhood Education; and Child Development.
Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Atlantic University is located in West Palm Beach, Florida. The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
The university offers a variety of bachelor’s degree programs in business administration, communication arts and sciences, education, English language and literature/letters/modern foreign languages, international studies/world languages and cultures, liberal arts/studies: general studies with concentrations in art studio/fine arts or dance; nursing (RN-to-BSN); psychology; social work; sport management; theatre & performance studies.
It also offers master’s degree programs such as counseling & student affairs administration; digital media production; educational leadership with concentrations in elementary education or higher education administration; English language & rhetoric with emphases on composition pedagogy or creative writing; healthcare leadership with concentrations in health care informatics management or quality management systems design & implementation.
For fall 2016 enrollment there were 2,628 full-time undergraduate students enrolled at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Keiser University
Keiser University is a private university located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was founded in 1977 and offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs to students. The school also provides online courses through its distance learning program.
The main campus of Keiser University is located at 1001 W Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311-3137; however the university has campuses located throughout Florida including Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Sarasota.
University of Miami
The University of Miami is located in Coral Gables and is one of the most prestigious universities in Florida. The University has a total enrollment of nearly 18,000 students and an acceptance rate of 46%. Undergrad tuition and fees for Florida residents are $57,926 per year ($54,270 for out-of-state students) while room and board can cost up to $14,590 per year.
Students at The University of Miami have access to over 300 undergraduate majors as well as over 200 graduate programs that can lead to master’s degrees or PhDs in every field imaginable. Additionally, there are also top-ranked medical schools on campus offering both MD and DO degrees along with other healthcare programs such as dentistry and optometry school.
Eckerd College
Eckerd College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Eckerd College was founded in 1968 by Dr. Harry L. Eckerd and his wife, the former Ruth Eckerd Hall. The school’s mascot is the Tritons and its colors are blue and white; it has been consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful campuses in America.
In 1985, the school began offering graduate programs through its School of Graduate Studies (SOGS), which now offers programs in Business Administration (MBA), Education (EdD), Music Therapy Practice (MMT)and Social Work Practice (MSW).
Conclusion
If you are looking for a great college, there are many choices in Florida. If you want to go to school near the beach, there are plenty of options. The best part is that most of these schools offer financial aid and scholarships so that you can attend even if money is tight.
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