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# Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Florida (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Best Colleges for Social Mobility in Florida lists 40 institutions. Schools are ordered by Azimuth's mobility pillar for Florida, highest first.

The pillar measures historical low-income earnings relative to peers, the scale of Pell enrollment and Pell completion, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. [University of Central Florida](/school/university-of-central-florida/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $61,355 for its graduates four years after completing.

[Florida International University](/school/florida-international-university/majors/) ranks 2nd with median earnings of $62,192, and [University of South Florida](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) ranks 3rd with median earnings of $62,079.

The list includes 12 public and 28 private nonprofit schools. Florida International University ranks 14th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

University of Florida posts the lowest average net price at $6,541, while University of Florida reports the highest six-year completion rate at 91%.

## The ranked list

40 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | University of Central Florida · Orlando, FL | $61,355 | $10,411 | $5,816 | 40.1% |
|  | [University of Central Florida](/school/university-of-central-florida/majors/) ranks 1st on this list and reports [median earnings of $61,355](/school/university-of-central-florida/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 2 | Florida International University · Miami, FL | $62,192 | $9,288 | $7,003 | 54.7% |
|  | [Florida International University](/school/florida-international-university/majors/) [admits 55% of applicants](/school/florida-international-university/admissions/) and posts a six-year completion rate of 74%. |
| 3 | University of South Florida · Tampa, FL | $62,079 | $9,812 | $4,122 | 43.2% |
|  | [University of South Florida](/school/university-of-south-florida/majors/) carries an [average net price of $4,122](/school/university-of-south-florida/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 4 | University of Florida · Gainesville, FL | $77,321 | $6,541 | $1,982 | 24.2% |
|  | A [six-year completion rate of 91%](/school/university-of-florida/outcomes/) and median earnings of $77,321 for its graduates four years after completing are reported by [University of Florida](/school/university-of-florida/majors/). |
| 5 | Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL | $66,924 | $11,297 | $5,938 | 24.2% |
|  | [Florida State University](/school/florida-state-university/majors/) [ranks 65th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/florida-state-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions and admits 24% of applicants. |
| 6 | Florida Atlantic University · Boca Raton, FL | $59,690 | $8,752 | $3,022 | 66.1% |
|  | An [average net price of $3,022](/school/florida-atlantic-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000 and median earnings of $59,690 for its graduates four years after completing are posted by [Florida Atlantic University](/school/florida-atlantic-university/majors/). |
| 7 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University · Tallahassee, FL | $52,657 | $13,739 | $13,299 | 20.6% |
|  | [Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University](/school/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university/majors/) ranks 7th on this list and has a [six-year completion rate of 53%](/school/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university/outcomes/). |
| 8 | University of North Florida · Jacksonville, FL | $59,418 | $10,154 | $6,647 | 53.2% |
|  | [University of North Florida](/school/university-of-north-florida/majors/) [admits 53% of applicants](/school/university-of-north-florida/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $59,418 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 9 | University of West Florida · Pensacola, FL | $67,723 | $9,364 | $4,815 | 58.2% |
|  | Median earnings of $67,723 for its graduates four years after completing and an [average net price of $9,364](/school/university-of-west-florida/cost/) are reported by [University of West Florida](/school/university-of-west-florida/majors/). |
| 10 | Florida Gulf Coast University · Fort Myers, FL | $59,369 | $12,568 | $8,220 | 63.4% |
|  | [Florida Gulf Coast University](/school/florida-gulf-coast-university/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 57%](/school/florida-gulf-coast-university/outcomes/) and an average net price of $8,220 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 11 | New College of Florida · Sarasota, FL | $43,848 | $7,195 | $3,591 | 73.2% |
|  | New College of Florida reports median earnings of $43,848 for its graduates four years after completing and admits 73% of applicants. |
| 12 | University of Miami · Coral Gables, FL | $85,019 | $37,244 | $15,978 | 18.9% |
|  | [University of Miami](/school/university-of-miami/majors/) ranks 12th on this list and carries an [average net price of $15,978](/school/university-of-miami/cost/) for families earning under $30,000. |
| 13 | Nova Southeastern University · Fort Lauderdale, FL | $81,582 | $30,371 | $26,603 | 73.2% |
|  | Nova Southeastern University, a private nonprofit university in Fort Lauderdale, reports median earnings of $81,582 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 14 | Florida Polytechnic University · Lakeland, FL | $86,952 | $11,853 | $8,819 | 57.5% |
|  | [Florida Polytechnic University](/school/florida-polytechnic-university/majors/) posts an [average net price of $11,853](/school/florida-polytechnic-university/cost/) and admits 58% of applicants. |
| 15 | Trinity College of Jacksonville · Jacksonville, FL | $47,042 | $20,011 | $16,686 | 53.3% |
|  | Trinity College of Jacksonville admits 53% of applicants and graduates 34% of its students within six years. |
| 16 | Trinity College of Florida · Trinity, FL | $35,285 | $20,297 | $16,224 | 91.9% |
|  | With a six-year completion rate of 0%, Trinity College of Florida ranks 16th on this list and 1310th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. |
| 17 | Beacon College · Leesburg, FL | $29,712 | $53,517 | $47,601 | 43.5% |
|  | Beacon College reports median earnings of $29,712 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $47,601 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 18 | The University of Tampa · Tampa, FL | $62,720 | $36,211 | $30,011 | 40.3% |
|  | [The University of Tampa](/school/the-university-of-tampa/majors/) [admits 40% of applicants](/school/the-university-of-tampa/admissions/) and reports median earnings of $62,720 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 19 | Ave Maria University · Ave Maria, FL | $59,489 | $24,860 | $18,761 | 41.4% |
|  | Ave Maria University posts a six-year completion rate of 54% and an average net price of $24,860. |
| 20 | Ringling College of Art and Design · Sarasota, FL | $49,311 | $57,742 | $47,261 | 69.7% |
|  | Ringling College of Art and Design ranks 20th on this list, with an average net price of $47,261 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 21 | Rollins College · Winter Park, FL | $65,488 | $34,732 | $27,177 | 47.5% |
|  | [Rollins College](/school/rollins-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $65,488](/school/rollins-college/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing and a six-year completion rate of 75%. |
| 22 | Florida Southern College · Lakeland, FL | $58,753 | $28,551 | $23,624 | 64.4% |
|  | [Florida Southern College](/school/florida-southern-college/majors/) [admits 64% of applicants](/school/florida-southern-college/admissions/) and posts an average net price of $28,551. |
| 23 | Stetson University · Deland, FL | $57,773 | $19,372 | $15,931 | 71.6% |
|  | [Stetson University](/school/stetson-university/majors/) ranks 23rd on this list and reports [median earnings of $57,773](/school/stetson-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 24 | Saint Leo University · Saint Leo, FL | $58,644 | $21,293 | $19,602 | 78.4% |
|  | Saint Leo University posts a six-year completion rate of 45% and an average net price of $19,602 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 25 | AdventHealth University · Orlando, FL | $79,607 | $30,135 | $28,845 | Not reported |
|  | AdventHealth University reports median earnings of $79,607 for its graduates four years after completing, and its six-year completion rate stands at 39%. |
| 26 | Florida College · Temple Terrace, FL | $46,022 | $23,931 | $20,494 | 69.7% |
|  | Florida College admits 70% of applicants and carries an average net price of $23,931. |
| 27 | Flagler College · Saint Augustine, FL | $52,031 | $30,525 | $21,733 | 80.8% |
|  | [Flagler College](/school/flagler-college/majors/) ranks 27th on this list, with graduates across all fields earning a [median of $52,031](/school/flagler-college/outcomes/) four years after completing. |
| 28 | Lynn University · Boca Raton, FL | $53,587 | $44,089 | $40,711 | 73.5% |
|  | Lynn University posts a six-year completion rate of 52% and an average net price of $40,711 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 29 | Eckerd College · Saint Petersburg, FL | $48,651 | $38,071 | $29,615 | 75.8% |
|  | Eckerd College reports median earnings of $48,651 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 76%. |
| 30 | Everglades University · Boca Raton, FL | $59,470 | $27,371 | $25,556 | 81.5% |
|  | Everglades University ranks 760th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and has a six-year completion rate of 61%. |
| 31 | Warner University · Lake Wales, FL | $50,390 | $19,748 | $17,853 | 42.8% |
|  | Warner University carries an average net price of $19,748 and admits 43% of applicants. |
| 32 | Bethune-Cookman University · Daytona Beach, FL | $46,007 | $12,030 | $10,896 | 88.2% |
|  | [Bethune-Cookman University](/school/bethune-cookman-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $46,007](/school/bethune-cookman-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $12,030. |
| 33 | Jacksonville University · Jacksonville, FL | $77,058 | $25,180 | $21,893 | 56.9% |
|  | Jacksonville University ranks 33rd on this list, with a six-year completion rate of 51% and an admission rate of 57%. |
| 34 | Barry University · Miami, FL | $73,480 | $22,613 | $20,804 | 77.2% |
|  | [Barry University](/school/barry-university/majors/) reports [median earnings of $73,480](/school/barry-university/outcomes/) for its graduates four years after completing, and its average net price is $22,613. |
| 35 | St. Thomas University · Miami Gardens, FL | $70,806 | $26,312 | $24,657 | 97.9% |
|  | St. Thomas University admits 98% of applicants and reports median earnings of $70,806 for its graduates four years after completing. |
| 36 | Southeastern University · Lakeland, FL | $50,572 | $31,942 | $29,498 | 53.0% |
|  | Southeastern University ranks 1338th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an average net price of $31,942. |
| 37 | Webber International University · Babson Park, FL | $50,359 | $29,529 | $27,801 | 69.4% |
|  | Webber International University reports median earnings of $50,359 for its graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $27,801 for families earning under $30,000. |
| 38 | Palm Beach Atlantic University · West Palm Beach, FL | $54,983 | $28,354 | $25,570 | 82.0% |
|  | Palm Beach Atlantic University admits 82% of applicants and graduates 55% of its students within six years. |
| 39 | Florida Memorial University · Miami Gardens, FL | $46,572 | $23,238 | $21,882 | 85.3% |
|  | Florida Memorial University ranks 1228th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, with a six-year completion rate of 31%. |
| 40 | Florida Institute of Technology · Melbourne, FL | $90,403 | $35,639 | $29,108 | 57.7% |
|  | Graduates of [Florida Institute of Technology](/school/florida-institute-of-technology/majors/) earn a [median of $90,403](/school/florida-institute-of-technology/outcomes/) four years after completing, and the school's average net price is $35,639. |

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by Azimuth's mobility pillar for Florida, highest first. The pillar measures historical low-income earnings relative to peers, the scale of Pell enrollment and Pell completion, as set out on [Azimuth's methodology page](/methodology/#mobility). The pillar draws on the median earnings of federally aided completers of each institution, across all fields, who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. It does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The list includes 12 public and 28 private nonprofit institutions. University of Central Florida ranks 1st on this list and reports median earnings of $61,355 for its graduates four years after completing, while Florida International University ranks 2nd with median earnings of $62,192.

## Related rankings

-   [Most Affordable Colleges in Florida](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Highest Paying Colleges in Florida](/rankings/highest-paying-colleges-in-florida/)
-   [Hidden Gem Colleges in Florida](/rankings/hidden-gem-colleges-in-florida/)