Getting into college in Florida doesn’t have to be difficult. However, if you find it difficult, your best bet is to apply for easy colleges to get into in Florida. Many Florida colleges are known for their high acceptance rate, which can make things a bit easier for you.
Perhaps, you have been trying to gain admission into some of the hardest colleges in Florida. That doesn’t mean you are not a good student; the competition is simply high, and the school can’t afford to admit all the best students. In Florida, some colleges take 1 out of every 5 students who apply. So, the chance of admission can be pretty low with this figure. However, with the easier colleges, you won’t face a high chance of rejection. The thing is that the higher a school’s acceptance rate, the more you are likely to be admitted.
Easy Colleges to Get Into in Florida
I have put together a detailed list of every nonprofit university in Florida that usually accepts at least half of the students who apply. For-profit schools typically have a reputation for not focusing on the quality of education but on their investor’s interest, so you might want to avoid those without regional accreditation.
This list focuses on 4-year colleges. I have created two tables—one for the specific universities’ acceptance rates and the other for the number of applicants and median ACT/SAT score (the average scores these students get on tests like the SAT or ACT for admission).
All this information is gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and it’s all from the year 2022. I have not included any schools that have less than 500 students studying for their bachelor’s degree.
| Easy Colleges to Get Into in Florida | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Ana G. Mendez University | 100% |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | 95% |
| Stetson University | 94% |
| Florida Institute of Technology-Online | 92% |
| Bethune-Cookman University | 85% |
| Edward Waters University | 84% |
| Flagler College | 81% |
| Florida Atlantic University | 81% |
| Lynn University | 80% |
| Saint Leo University | 80% |
| Nova Southeastern University | 76% |
| New College of Florida | 75% |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 74% |
| University of North Florida | 71% |
| Everglades University | 70% |
| Florida Memorial University | 70% |
| Eckerd College | 65% |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach | 65% |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | 65% |
| St. Thomas University | 65% |
| University of Florida Online | 65% |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 64% |
| Florida International University | 64% |
| Southeastern University | 61% |
| Barry University | 60% |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide | 58% |
| Jacksonville University | 58% |
| Florida Southern College | 57% |
| Florida Polytechnic University | 56% |
| Warner University | 55% |
| Beacon College | 52% |
| Rollins College | 50% |
So, the low acceptance rate here shows that these are the easy colleges to get into in Florida. The higher the acceptance rate, the better.
We also have to consider easy colleges to get into in Florida based on the number of applicants and the median ACT/SAT score. Tap to expand the toggle for this table.
| College | Number of Applicants | Median ACT/SAT Score |
|---|---|---|
| Ana G. Mendez University | N/A | N/A |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | 6,220 | SAT: 1110, ACT: 23 |
| Stetson University | 7,344 | SAT: 1190, ACT: 26 |
| Florida Institute of Technology-Online | 113 | N/A |
| Bethune-Cookman University | 12,818 | SAT: 900, ACT: 16 |
| Edward Waters University | 8,988 | N/A |
| Flagler College | 5,416 | SAT: 1140, ACT: 25 |
| Florida Atlantic University | 24,268 | SAT: 1110, ACT: 22 |
| Lynn University | 7,843 | SAT: 1100, ACT: 24 |
| Saint Leo University | 6,928 | SAT: 1080, ACT: 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | 16,789 | SAT: 1170, ACT: 23 |
| New College of Florida | 1,830 | SAT: 1230, ACT: 26 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | 15,657 | SAT: 1110, ACT: 22 |
| University of North Florida | 19,744 | SAT: 1110, ACT: 21 |
| Everglades University | 779 | N/A |
| Florida Memorial University | 11,931 | N/A |
| Eckerd College | 5,549 | SAT: 1230, ACT: 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach | 9,875 | SAT: 1230, ACT: 26 |
| Ringling College of Art and Design | 2,462 | N/A |
| St. Thomas University | 7,520 | N/A |
| University of Florida Online | 1,499 | SAT: 1320, ACT: 29 |
| Florida Institute of Technology | 13,941 | SAT: 1210, ACT: 25 |
| Florida International University | 17,343 | SAT: 1150, ACT: 24 |
| Southeastern University | 2,182 | N/A |
| Barry University | 13,225 | N/A |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide | 1,668 | SAT: 1220, ACT: 27 |
| Jacksonville University | 9,119 | SAT: 1150, ACT: 24 |
| Florida Southern College | 11,120 | SAT: 1180, ACT: 26 |
| Florida Polytechnic University | 2,779 | SAT: 1280, ACT: 28 |
| Warner University | 1,372 | SAT: 960, ACT: 18 |
| Beacon College | 416 | N/A |
| Rollins College | 9,022 | SAT: 1250, ACT: 27 |
So, that’s it. As I mentioned before, you can also determine the easy colleges to get into in Florida using their number of applicants as well as their median ACT/SAT score.
Schools with Open Admission in Florida 2024
In Florida, the open admissions approach is a simple yet inclusive method used by many schools. This means if you’ve finished high school or have a GED, you can get admitted. There’s no need for a specific GPA or SAT/ACT scores.
Florida stands out because all of its 50 community colleges follow this open admissions rule. These colleges usually offer two-year associate degrees. But, uniquely, in Florida, you can also pursue a bachelor’s degree at these community colleges, which isn’t the case in many other states. Also, some of Florida’s private 4-year colleges, such as Ana G. Mendez University, adopt open admissions since they have a 100% acceptance rate.
28 colleges are known to have open admissions in Florida. So, here, you can easily get admitted. There are no strict entry requirements, and you are welcome to apply and gain admission. Below are schools with open admission in Florida:
- Broward College
- Chipola College
- College of Central Florida
- Daytona State College
- Eastern Florida State College
- Florida Gateway College
- The College of the Florida Keys
- Florida SouthWestern State College
- Florida State College at Jacksonville
- Gulf Coast State College
- Hillsborough Community College
- Indian River State College
- Lake-Sumter State College
- Miami Dade College
- North Florida College
- Northwest Florida State College
- Palm Beach State College
- Pasco-Hernando State College
- Pensacola State College
- Polk State College
- St. Johns River State College
- St. Petersburg College
- Santa Fe College
- Seminole State College of Florida
- South Florida State College
- State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota
- Tallahassee Community College
- Valencia College
How to Easily Get Admission into a College in Florida
Even when applying to a Florida college with a high acceptance rate, you still need to submit a strong application. The goal is to increase your chances of getting in and also give you peace of mind. Here are some tips to help you strengthen your application into any of the easy colleges to get into in Florida:
- If the college accepts them, ask teachers, coaches, or mentors who know you well to write letters of recommendation. These letters can give insight into your character and abilities that grades and test scores can’t.
- One of the biggest mistakes in college applications is missing deadlines. Make sure you know all the important dates and submit everything on time.
- If the college allows you to include an essay or personal statement, make sure it’s compelling. This is your chance to show who you are beyond your grades and test scores. If other applicants don’t submit an essay and you do, it can help you stand out.
Hardest Colleges to Get Into in Florida
The hardest colleges to get into in Florida are the University of Miami and the University of Florida. Let’s comment briefly on both, and why they are the hardest in Florida.
University of Miami
The University of Miami is the most difficult college to get into in Florida, however, it is generally ranked lower than the University of Florida. As of 2024, according to the admissions unit of the University of Miami, the University of Miami admissions has an acceptance rate of 19% and an early acceptance rate of 57.1%.
As of 2024-25, only 19% of those who applied were accepted, based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Students entering for the first time usually had a SAT score of around 1390 and an ACT score of 32. The university also requires a personal essay and letters of recommendation.
University of Florida
Yes, it is hard to get into the University of Florida. In 2023, the University of Florida, known for its selective admissions, accepted about 23% of applicants, according to the NCES data. When it comes to standardized test scores, a typical range for those admitted is between 1300 and 1490 for the SAT, and 28 to 33 for the ACT. Interestingly, this doesn’t tell the whole story. There are always exceptions; about a quarter of the students they accept score above these ranges, and another quarter fall below them. This means that while good scores can boost your chances, they’re not the only factor UF considers.
Conclusion
So, we have been able to look at the easy colleges to get into in Florida and the hardest of them all. Now, there is something you need to know. The increasing competitiveness of colleges, including those in Florida like the University of Florida (UF), could be due to a general rise in the number of applicants, which naturally lowers acceptance rates. This influx might be due to the state’s attractiveness, with Florida known for its ‘bright futures’. Also, as schools like UF climb in national rankings, they draw attention from prospective students across the country and even internationally. This heightened interest further increases the competition. It’s not just a simple case of more applicants; it’s also about the appeal and reputation of these schools.
Read also: Florida Institute of Technology Scholarships for international students 2024
