When most people think of the Sunshine State they likely think of the exact opposite of education, Spring Break. Sure, Spring Break is predominantly indulged in by college students, but the activities that take place during this annual tradition rarely have any educational value. Take a moment to look beyond the white sandy beaches of Florida however and you will find a wealth of higher learning institutions ready to provide prospective students with a top notch education. High school students looking for a warm, sunny climate in which to attend school should consider one of the many Florida colleges.
With endless miles of beaches, plenty of sunshine, and warm weather year round; Florida is an ideal state to attend college in for those who want a great education in a relaxed environment. There are a total of 166 degree granting universities and colleges in the state of Florida, the second largest concentration among Gulf Coast states (just but well behind the 298 of Texas). A general breakdown of Florida colleges is listed below:
- Of the 166 Florida colleges, 40 are publicly funded institutions and 126 are privately funded institutions
- There are 12 four year public institutions and 28 two year public institutions
- There are 83 four year private institutions and 43 two year private institutions
- Of the 12 four year public institutions, only two offer just a Bachelor’s degree while four offer up to a Master’s degree, and six offer up to a Doctorate.
- Of the 83 four year private institutions, 57 offer only Bachelor’s degrees while 21 offer up to a Master’s degree, and five offer up to a Doctorate.
The variety of Florida colleges available for prospective students is almost limitless. The system of Florida colleges can be broken down into five different types of schools. The two main categories that Florida schools fall into are public and private, but beyond that the list of Florida colleges can be broken down even further. A detailed breakdown of schools in Florida looks like this:
• Public Colleges & Universities
- State University System
- Florida College System
• Private Colleges & Universities
- Religiously Affiliated Schools
- Trade & Technical Schools
- Other Private Schools
Florida’s state university system of colleges consists of 11 different institutions and includes the largest schools in the state, both in campus size and enrollment. The Florida College System consists of 28 schools that vary between small public institutions and community colleges. Among the 28 schools in the Florida College System, 11 are community colleges.
The number of private colleges and universities in Florida vastly outnumbers the amount of publicly funded schools across the state and can be broken down into more groups than the public schools. The number of private schools is almost evenly divided among the groups they fall into, with 26 religiously affiliated schools, 21 trade and technical schools, and 23 other private institutions.
Many of Florida’s colleges are located in or around the biggest cities in the state. The five biggest cities in the state include the following, in order:
- Jacksonville
- Miami
- Tampa
- St. Petersburg
- Orlando
- Tallahassee, the state capital, is the 8th largest city but is home to many major schools in the state
Jacksonville is the northern most major city in the state of Florida, located right near the border with Georgia. The city has a population of 813,516 with the metro area having a population just over 1.5 million. The city is home to many well known companies, including three Fortune 500 companies and has the second third largest military presence in the United States behind Norfolk, Virginia and San Diego, California. With warm, humid summers, and cool, temperate winters; Jacksonville is an ideal locale in which to attend school. The city is home to six major Florida colleges, including four private institutions and two public institutions, with one each representing the state system and the Florida College System.
Miami is the second largest city in the state of Florida with a population of 433,136. However, Miami is the main component of the larger South Florida metropolitan area which is home to 5.5 million residents, making it the largest metro area in Florida. Home to some of the most important financial institutions in the country, as well as numerous tourism related companies; Miami is a vital piece of the Florida economy. Miami and its surrounding communities are home to 12 major colleges and universities. Among them are 12 private schools and two public schools including the largest public institution of higher learning in the United States.
Florida’s third largest city is Tampa and, together with its sister city of St. Petersburg, the area is considered the second largest metropolitan area in the state. Tampa itself has a population of 343,890. St. Petersburg, which comes in just behind Tampa on the list of largest cities in the state, has a population of 245,314. The metropolitan area, which includes Clearwater and other smaller cities, has a population of 2.7 million. The area is home to 1 universities and colleges, including five public schools, four community colleges, and the regions only law school.
Orlando is the fifth largest city in the state with a population of 235,860. The greater metropolitan area has a population of just over 2 million and is home to several important Florida colleges. Orlando is home to 10 colleges and universities, with two public schools from the state system, two from the Florida College System, and six private institutions. In addition to 10 major campus locations, there are 18 satellite campuses that call Orlando home.
The state capital of Tallahassee may not be the state’s largest city, but that doesn’t make it less important in the state’s higher education system. With a metropolitan area of just 360,013 residents, Tallahassee is nevertheless home to many notable Florida colleges. The city is home to two major public school campuses, as well as a joint engineering school run by the two schools. Other campuses include one of the state’s major community colleges and four satellite campus locations for private colleges. In total, nine college campuses call Tallahassee home.
There may be no better state in the Union to attend college in than the Sunshine State. With thousands of miles of white sandy beaches, warm summers, and cool winters; Florida is not only a premier tourist destination but also a top place to attend college.