Study in State of Florida - top 83 institutions in State of Florida

The state's elementary and secondary education system is characterized by contrasts and contradictions. Funding per student at approximately 2,600 private schools (where every 12th private school in the US is registered in Florida), serving about 14% of schoolchildren, exceeds that of 4,200 government and 700 charter schools by more than four times. Private schools have an average student-to-teacher ratio of 1:5.6, whereas in public schools, it's 1:17, which is higher than the national average of 1:15.6.

Private schools consistently rank in the top ten nationally for reading, mathematics, English language, and natural sciences. In contrast, government schools rarely rise above the middle of the rankings in these categories.

However, recent reforms in the past decade have started to improve the situation in public education breaking the trend. From 2003 to 2023, the funding gap between private and public schools has narrowed by 244%, with significant improvements in statistical indicators. For instance, over ten years, the graduation rate has increased from 83% to 87%.

Local residents in Florida have the option to attend government schools for free or utilize vouchers to attend private schools. Foreign students can enroll in certain charter schools, pursue online education, or attend private schools. Tuition costs vary widely, ranging from $23,000 to $70-90,000 per year, depending on the school's prestige, programs offered, student age, and accommodation arrangements (boarding schools being more expensive). Many schools offer scholarships based on academic, athletic, or other achievements, as well as need-based criteria.

The curriculum for government schools is set at the county level (Florida has 67 counties), with framework requirements established by the state's Department of Education. Private schools have autonomy in designing their curriculum, internal structure, and conducting internal examinations. Alongside the US High School Diploma (used by about 80% of schools), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs (utilized by 7-10%), there are numerous schools in the state with unique proprietary programs. While less popular among foreigners, these programs still enjoy considerable demand.

Florida hosts campuses of several dozen state and private universities, state colleges, and local public colleges. Additionally, there are local two-year colleges, with 11 offering four-year bachelor's programs. The 12 state universities are part of the State University System of Florida, established in 1905. As of 2023, these universities enrolled 430,000 students, including 38,000 international students. Among them, 8,000 studied at Florida State University in Tallahassee, 6,500 at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and 5,500 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The state higher education system also includes 28 state public colleges and colleges established by the state government, with a total enrollment of 630,000 students. Eleven of these institutions offer both two-year professional programs and four-year bachelor's programs.

In addition to public institutions, Florida is home to private universities and colleges. Thirty of these are part of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida association. Many of these institutions are highly respected, with degrees in high demand alongside those from public universities. Examples include Keiser University, The University of Tampa, University of Miami, and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.

Some local universities rank highly in international rankings. For instance, the University of Florida ranks 4th nationally among public universities and 80th overall in Forbes' list. The University of Miami ranks 132nd in Forbes and 37th among best non-state universities according to Kiplinger; US News & World Report considers it the best in the state.

Tuition costs at Florida's public universities are generally higher than the national average but lower than in popular educational destinations in the US such as California, New England, and New York. For example, undergraduate program costs range from $22,000 to $46,000 depending on the institution and field of study. In private institutions, costs vary more widely, from $14,000 to $70,000 per year. Postgraduate education ranges from $11,000 to $38,000. MBA programs are an exception, they traditionally cost significantly more than other master's programs (with annual tuition ranging from $90,000 to $120,000), as well as programs in pharmacy, physiology, dentistry, and law.

The first schools in what is now Florida were established during the Spanish colonial period. Schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church existed in Pensacola and Tampa as early as the 17th century, but none survived to modern times—the last "old" Spanish school closed in 1838.

From 1831, Florida began developing a state education system, though significant progress was only made after the Civil War when the state established a Department of Education. Initially, schools were four-year institutions, with six-year schools becoming more common by the end of the 19th century, followed by eight-year schools.

The school system was segregated, and in 1832, a law was passed effectively banning education for both enslaved and free African Americans. This provision was repealed in 1864, but in 1881, integrated schools were prohibited, leading to the establishment of three parallel school systems in Florida—for whites, African Americans, and Seminole Indians. This segregation persisted until 1954 when it was overturned. Chester Sibery became the first African American to graduate from a formerly all-white school in 1963.

To bridge the gap in education between white and minority populations, the state significantly eased the establishment of private schools. By the end of the 20th century, amid the creation of an aerospace cluster and rising prosperity in Florida, hundreds and then thousands of private schools, both religious and secular, were established.

The first universities in the state included the University of Florida, founded in 1851 as the East Florida Seminary, which relocated to Gainesville in 1866, the West Florida Seminary (opened in 1857), and the Florida Agricultural College (1915), later becoming the University of Florida.

In 1905, the Buckman Act reorganized all universities and colleges into three institutions: the University of Florida (for white men), the Florida State University (for women), and the State Normal School (for African Americans). Florida's universities were desegregated in 1954. By the end of the 20th century, the number of state universities in Florida had grown to 12, in addition to several dozen independent colleges and universities in the state.