Best Online Colleges in Florida 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE COLLEGES IN FLORIDA

Published: Dec 21, 2021
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Florida. Online degrees in Florida are offered by Florida’s best colleges and universities as well as the most affordable colleges.

Top 10 Online Colleges in Florida

University of Florida
Florida State University
University of Central Florida
Florida International University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Atlantic University
Nova Southeastern University
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
University of West Florida
Barry University

University of Florida
Florida State University
Florida International University
University of Central Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Nova Southeastern University
Florida Institute of Technology
Barry University
Trinity College of Florida
Jacksonville University

Keiser University 97%
Baptist College of Florida 89%
Florida Atlantic University 81%
Lynn University 80%
Saint Leo University 80%
Nova Southeastern University 76%
Florida Gulf Coast University 74%
Everglades University 70%
St. Thomas University 65%
Florida Institute of Technology 64%

State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota 38 to 1
University of Central Florida 29 to 1
Southeastern University 27 to 1
Seminole State College of Florida 26 to 1
Florida International University 24 to 1
Webber International University 24 to 1
Florida State College at Jacksonville 23 to 1
Tallahassee Community College 23 to 1
St. Petersburg College 22 to 1
Florida Atlantic University 22 to 1

Florida Institute of Technology $43,670
Jacksonville University $43,670
Lynn University $41,550
Nova Southeastern University $36,300
St. Thomas University $33,760
Barry University $32,500
Webber International University $30,798
Southeastern University $30,148
Saint Leo University $27,050
Keiser University $23,248

Keiser University $30,032
Webber International University $28,701
AdventHealth University $25,332
Florida Institute of Technology $22,338
Nova Southeastern University $22,062
Everglades University $21,360
Saint Leo University $18,436
Barry University $17,820
Jacksonville University $16,293
Hodges University $15,750

Trinity College of Florida
Baptist College of Florida
Webber International University
Hodges University
North Florida College
AdventHealth University
Everglades University
Gulf Coast State College
State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota
Keiser University

Baptist College of Florida
North Florida College
AdventHealth University
University of South Florida Sarasota–Manatee
Everglades University
Gulf Coast State College
Trinity Baptist College
State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota
College of Central Florida
Hodges University

University of Florida 23%
Florida State University 25%
AdventHealth University 34%
University of Central Florida 41%
University of West Florida 48%
Webber International University 49%
Trinity Baptist College 50%
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University 58%
Jacksonville University 58%
Trinity College of Florida 60%

AdventHealth University 5 to 1
Baptist College of Florida 8 to 1
Hodges University 10 to 1
Trinity Baptist College 10 to 1
Barry University 12 to 1
Trinity College of Florida 12 to 1
Jacksonville University 13 to 1
Florida Institute of Technology 14 to 1
Keiser University 15 to 1
University of Florida 16 to 1

Gulf Coast State College $1,750
St. Petersburg College $1,943
College of Central Florida $1,987
Tallahassee Community College $2,002
Florida State College at Jacksonville $2,095
North Florida College $2,280
State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota $2,365
Seminole State College of Florida $2,393
Florida Atlantic University $2,522
Daytona State College $3,072

Baptist College of Florida $4,620
Florida Atlantic University $5,467
University of Central Florida $6,916
Florida Gulf Coast University $6,974
University of West Florida $7,088
Florida International University $9,119
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University $9,276
Florida State University $9,684
University of Florida $10,770
Southeastern University $12,000

Key Takeaways

Florida has one of the biggest enrollments in the U.S., with more than 1M students enrolled during the fall of 2020.
Despite being among the top 5 states with the highest annual enrollment, Florida’s leaders want to increase the number by delivering 40% of undergraduate credits online by 2025.
Florida is also home to some of the country’s excellent online research universities and athletic programs.

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Employment Opportunities in Florida

As of October 2022, Florida has a 2.7% unemployment rate, indicating a lower-than-national-average rate.

According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, Florida’s annual mean wage is $51,950. However, an individual’s salary potential still depends on several factors, including academic degree, work experience, and industry, among many others.

Students aspiring to become working professionals in Florida should start finding careers in the state’s top industries, including technology, healthcare, business administration, public policy, and finance.

Popular Online Degree Options in Florida

Florida’s best online colleges offer the same high-quality academic programs to distance learners and on-campus students. Distance learners pursuing online degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels must complete online courses in general education, core, and elective requirements.

Here are some of the popular academic programs offered at major universities in Florida:

Health Sciences/Healthcare

Florida distance learners can enroll in the University of Florida’s RN-to-BSN academic program, with no on-campus requirements or attendance required. They take online courses in genetics, healthcare, physiology, and professional nursing.

Depending on students’ commitment, they can complete the 60-credit program within 24 months. Graduates of the program can find work as ICU, emergency, pediatric, and OR nurses.

Information Technology

Online degree seekers can pursue lucrative careers in the I.T. industry, working as software developers, information systems analysts, network administrators, and programmers. Most online programs in tech-related fields feature courses requiring a total of 120 credits for degree completion.

Distance learners gain a comprehensive introduction to web development, algorithm design, and software engineering. Some online programs require a thesis or capstone completion before graduation.

Education

Distance learners can specialize in educational leadership, education technology, and research. Some of these online programs prepare graduates to work as K-12 educators, depending on their curriculum and requirements.

Out-of-State Students Pursuing Online Programs in Florida

Like other states, students attending private institutions and public universities outside their home state will pay higher in-state tuition fees. However, out-of-state students wanting to pursue an online program in Florida online schools may be eligible for reduced tuition rates.

The SREB, or Southern Regional Education Board, is a council of representatives of 15 member states striving to increase academic opportunities for students throughout the region. Apart from Florida, other states that are part of the SREB include West Virginia, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Maryland, Louisiana, Kentucky, Georgia, Delaware, Arkansas, and Alabama.

The Academic Common Market of the SREB provides out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to enroll in academic programs of other member states and enjoy in-state tuition fees.

Although the Academic Common Market doesn’t cover each public institution’s educational program, the ACM allows students to enroll in an academic degree from a member school if that specific program or major isn’t offered in students’ home states.

The SREB has pre-approved 1,500+ academic programs for tuition discounts in the Academic Common Market. Students may also request SREB approval to pursue an online program not listed in the SREB.

Colleges and Universities in Florida

The state of Florida offers a wealth of options for students seeking both traditional and online degree programs. With more than 40 public and 50 private schools, prospective students can earn their associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from an extremely wide variety of brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Florida.

Colleges in Florida are also uniquely affordable, with the state average tuition of $6,360 falling well under the national average. Among the most popular disciplines in Florida are anthropology, nursing, law, religious studies, and earth sciences. Many of these valuable degrees are available through online courses and fully online degree programs.

Indeed, nearly 40 colleges and universities in Florida offer online degrees. These online degree programs offer flexibility, convenience and accessibility. Make sure to choose an online degree program with accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Among the largest colleges in Florida is Miami Dade College. This public college is home to over 165,000 students across eight campuses and 21 outreach centers as well as various excellent online degree programs. Miami Dade College also offers an extremely affordable in-state tuition of $3,000.

Students seeking a religious school can choose from 21 colleges and universities that are grounded in Judeo-Christian, Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, and Christian principles. Ranked as the top two schools, the University of Florida (UF) and Florida State University (FSU) both have large student populations, with just over 45,000 at UF and just under 39,000 as FSU. Both are also affordable, with tuition at $6,000 and $7,000, respectively.

At $50,000, the University of Miami is the most expensive private college in the state and has graduated influential people such as Gene Roddenberry, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne The Rock Johnson. Florida also offers its nursing students up to $4,000 in financial aid through their Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

Coastal cities, sandy beaches, orange groves, and vibrant flowers - it’s no wonder Florida is called The Sunshine State. Home to the famous Everglades National Park and Disney World, Florida also boasts 90 higher education institutes.

With so many options for both traditional and online colleges in Florida, this state has a lot to offer higher education students. Check out Florida’s best degree programs and top career paths.

What are Florida’s Colleges & Universities?

Florida’s Best Overall

Online education has grown dramatically in quality, credibility, and popularity over the last two decades. Today, more than a quarter of all college students are taking at least one online course. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are more than 5 million college students who are pursuing their undergraduate degree fully online. And the number of online college and graduate students continues to grow as online technology and instructional methods improve.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to remote learning has proven an essential part of the educational ecosystem. Schools that offer primarily online degree programs saw an increase of 7% enrollment just between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The number of traditional institutions offering online courses and degrees is growing as well. This all paints a promising picture for the future of online education. But it also produces a dizzying array of options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Online Colleges 2024

Asynchronous learning means classes don’t meet at set times. This is the most flexible online learning experience, making when you cover your course material up to you. Most asynchronous online courses will still have deadlines throughout the semester for various assignments and tests. Some asynchronous classes may still ask for an occasional meeting, such as initial meet-and-greets, and in some cases there may be scheduled test times. The idea of asynchronous learning is to allow the student to manage their schedules as needed.

Synchronous learning means you will have scheduled meeting times for your online classes. Synchronous learning gives online students the flexibility of location while also giving students a chance to engage with each other and their professors. For many online students, the structured class schedules and ability to see and hear from peers in real-time helps create the learning experience they want.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities—educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

See more frequently asked questions

If you interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

How do we determine the best online colleges for undergrads?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Note: This ranking focuses on online bachelor’s degree available through Florida’s best colleges and universities.

Best Online Colleges in Florida 2023

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Online Colleges in Florida 2024

Top 10 Online Colleges in Florida

Key Takeaways

Featured Programs

Employment Opportunities in Florida

Popular Online Degree Options in Florida

Health Sciences/Healthcare

Information Technology

Education

Out-of-State Students Pursuing Online Programs in Florida

Colleges and Universities in Florida

What are Florida’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Colleges in Florida 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Florida

Online Degrees

Concentrations

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Career Outlook for degree at Florida State University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Central Florida

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Florida International University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Florida Institute of Technology

Online Degrees

Concentrations

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Career Outlook for degree at Florida Atlantic University

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Nova Southeastern University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of West Florida

Online Degrees

Concentrations

Specialization

Career Outlook for degree at Barry University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Florida Gulf Coast University

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Career Outlook for degree at Jacksonville University

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Career Outlook for degree at St. Petersburg College

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Saint Leo University

Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Lynn University

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at St. Thomas University

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Career Outlook for degree at College of Central Florida

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Trinity Baptist College

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Florida State College at Jacksonville

Online Degrees

Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Southeastern University