Seven Universities in Florida

There are approximately 4,500 higher education institutions in the United States. As I mentioned in my previous articles, these educational institutions are hosting around 1.1 million international students as of 2020. I can easily say that the quality of education offered at these schools, which are spread over a very large geography, is very high, especially among the top 400 colleges. In this article, I would like to talk about the schools in Florida. Since it is necessary to consider regional factors while making school choices, I thought it would be useful to present an analysis in which location and schools were discussed together. I believe it will be helpful for you during the application process to colleges in the US.

First of all, it would be better to know the state of Florida. Its area is around 152,000 square kilometers; 11,000 square kilometers of this area consists of lakes and other wetlands. Florida is the 22nd largest state in the US. Its highest point is 105 meters. In other words, there is almost no elevation in this state. It has a coastline of 1,926 kilometers, 1,067 kilometers of which consists of beaches. The 440-kilometer St. Johns River is the longest river. There are around 7,700 lakes larger than 10 hectares in this state. There are also around 4,500 islands larger than 10 hectares. The oldest established city of the US that is still inhabited is also in this state; St. Augustine was founded by Spanish explorers in 1558. Florida, with a population of 23,000,000, experienced the most in-migration within the past year, with 566,476 people moving from another state. The states with the next highest in-migration flows are Texas with 524,511 and California with 523,131. One-thousand people are thought to move permanently to Florida every day. The biggest reason for this attraction is the cost of living, which is lower in Florida than in other states. It is especially very attractive for retirees. The largest cities in Florida, in order of size, are Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Hialeah, Tallahasse, Fort Lauderdale, and Port St. Lucie. Average temperature in summer is 27.7 degrees Celsius. Winters are around 16 degrees Celsius. Very little snowfall has been recorded in Florida’s history. There is very high humidity in the summer. Of Florida’s 19 major airports, 12 are international. The state has around 800 camping areas. Florida, which has a large number of theme parks, is a state preferred by both local and international tourists.

There are many higher education institutions in Florida. Since it is not possible for us to talk about all of them, I would like to focus on specific schools that US News & World Report ranks each year. According to these rankings, Florida’s best university is the University of Florida. This school, ranked 34th in the national list, is a public university. The school, which has around 55,000 students, is one of the 10 largest universities in the US. The school’s tuition is around $ 6,800 for Florida residents. The price goes up to $ 29,000 for international students and students from other states. This is a system (affirmative action) used by public schools in the US. We are talking about a school that received $838 million in research grants last year. Approximately 5,000 faculty members and staff work in this school. The number of international students in this school is around 5,000.

Another public university, Florida State University (FSU), is ranked as number 2 in Florida. FSU is ranked 57th in the national ranking list. This school is also a large school, with a student population of approximately 41,000. Students from 130 different countries study at Florida State University. Studying an undergraduate degree at FSU costs around $6,100 for Florida residents. On the other hand, international students and the students from other states are expected to pay up to $ 22,000. Of course, these numbers are without scholarships. The school, which has endowment assets of $704,000,000, was established in 1851. FSU’s operational budget is around $1.9 billion. At this school, 295 different programs are offered to undergraduate and graduate students.

Third place in this state is occupied by the University of Miami. The University of Miami, a private college, was established in 1925. It has around 18,000 students. Students from 150 different countries also study at this school. Since it is a private school, a single tuition has been specified. The required amount for undergraduate education is around $52,000. There are many famous people who have graduated from the University of Miami. Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne Johnson, Enrique Iglesias, and Gloria Estefan are some of the celebrities who have graduated from the University of Miami.

In fourth place we see the University of South Florida. This school is ranked 104th in the national ranking list. This school is located in Tampa. and was established in 1956. University of South Florida, with 51,000 students, is also a public university. The tuition for Florida residents is around $6,300. For international students and students from other states, the tuition is around $23,000. The acceptance rate is 45%. International students from 141 different countries make up 10% of the total number of students at this school.

The fifth best school in Florida is the University of Central Florida in Orlando. This is another state university founded in 1963. Students from 157 different countries receive an education at the school, which has a total enrollment of 70,000 students. In this respect, it is one of the largest schools, with the 4th highest enrollment in the US. University of Central Florida offers 225 different programs. Annual tuition for Florida residents is again low. It is possible to get an education from this school for around $6,300/year. Students from other countries and other states have to pay around $23,000 for a year’s tuition at this school. Let me remind you once again that these numbers are the base numbers, before adding scholarships or other financial aid.

Florida Institute of Technology is ranked sixth in the list of best schools in Florida. Ranked 202nd in the national list, this private university is located in Melbourne. Established in 1958, the school has around 6,400 students. Buzz Aldrin, one of the astronauts who first set foot on the moon, taught at this school. He and two other astronauts were faculty members at the time. Five of his graduating students are also astronauts who have taken to space. Florida Institute of Technology is only 50 miles from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Under the name of the Astronaut Scholarship, financial aid of $10,000 is given to two students a year.

Florida International University ranks as the seventh best school in Florida. This school is also a public university. Florida International University, which has around 54,000 students, was established in 1965. This school is located in Miami and has an acceptance rate of 54%. It is also ranked 218th in the national ranking list.

These schools, which have very large and beautiful campuses, are also very attractive for international students. The heat and humidity in the summer months can be a bit overwhelming, but as the schools open at the end of August, humidity and heat are not too much of a problem, at least not for long. Florida is a state where social life is also very vibrant. In a sense, you might imagine that you are on a long vacation while completing your college education at a Florida university. When making school choices, it would be wise to add a school or two from Florida. Of course, I recommend that you work with a professional consultant. The ranking of the schools and the beauty of the campus may not be the only factors you need to consider making an informed decision. Scholarship opportunities in particular should also be evaluated.

Erkan Acar, PhD

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