Last Updated: September 22, 2021
Florida - The Sunshine State
Florida is located towards the southeastern part of the U.S. It is the country's third most populated state and the city of Tallahassee is the state capital. The estimated population of Florida in the year 2021 is approximately 21.6 million. Northern Florida sees a temperate climate, while 1/3rd of this state mostly has subtropical and not a tropical climate. Florida has more temperature extremities than the Caribbean islands. Summers are very humid and hot while the autumn and spring seasons are perfect. It is known as the 'Sunshine State' for its sunny atmosphere. Florida boasts of approximately two hundred private colleges and enrollments totaling nearly 150,000.
Compared to the other U.S. states, Florida comes 6th regarding international pupils pursuing their studies at any of the Florida universities or colleges. The University of Florida is very popular along with other universities like the Florida International University, the University of South Florida, etc. Florida offers a vast selection of profit and non-profit schools and state universities from where one can get their degrees in various fields like aviation, law, fine arts, business, journalism, and many more. Florida universities and colleges are backed by a diversified, robust economy. A lot of these subject fields are tied to the economy of the state, which has stress laid on international trade, agriculture, and tourism to name a few. Because of the ever-increasing international trade in Florida, a lot of colleges have created programs, which focus on international sailing, trade, business, etc.
The State University System has about eleven public institutions which offer graduate, research, and undergraduate opportunities for students as well as advanced researchers.
Major cities in Florida
Jacksonville
This is the largest city that offers a plethora of job opportunities to people who want to establish a sound career in this state. It was declared a city in the year 1832 and was named in the honor of Andrew Jackson. The weather is mostly sunny and is suitable for enjoying several outdoor activities while exploring the city's famed restaurants and beautiful skyscrapers. Jacksonville is a major economic, cultural, and transportation hub, and is home to many good colleges and universities like Florida Community College, Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, and so on.
Miami
Replete with numerous architectural venues, beautiful sunny beaches, museums and parks, and delicious food, Miami is a vibrant city with the 2nd largest population in Florida. The city was founded in the year 1870 and has been a place where diverse communities live together. Finance, tourism, healthcare, and technology are important economic sectors here. Major companies like Burger King are headquartered in the city of Miami.
Tampa
Once known as the 'Cigar City' because of its prominence of cigar companies, Tampa is the third most densely populated city that is situated on the Tampa Bay. With its flourishing economy, rich culture, and pleasant, sunny weather, Tampa is a beautiful city to live in, study, or explore. It has a multitude of major tourist attractions such as the Busch Gardens, Devil Rays, Tampa Zoo, Florida Aquarium, and Riverwalk, making it an ideal place for fun outdoor activities. Agriculture, finance, aviation, and technology are some of its most important industries. The city is also home to the University of Florida, and the University of Tampa.
Orlando
Nicknamed 'City Beautiful', the city of Orlando is home to world-famous attractions, that is, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Discovery Cove and so much more, and it indeed sticks to its nickname, being magical and beautiful. Other notable arts and cultural sites include The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, The Historic Bok Sanctuary, The Cornell Fine Arts Museum, The Maitland Art Center, etc.
Economy/Job Market
Aviation & Aerospace, Defense and Homeland Security, Financial and Professional Services, Information Technology, and Life Sciences are important economic sectors in the state of Florida. Tourism and agriculture are two other very popular industries in the state that keep the economy thriving. The economic conditions are pretty much mediocre compared to how they used to be. There are continued efforts to recover from the severe blows of the Covid-19 pandemic. Given that tourism and hospitality is a major economic sector in the state, it largely affected all the major cities, especially Orlando which is a place that sees major tourist activities. Around 6.8% of growth is expected in the economy of the state in 2021. According to the latest reports, the average salary of a person in Florida, as of 2021, is nearly $ $52,000 per year.
Tuition Fee and Living Cost in Florida
The cost of studying in Florida is just a little less, or rather a lot more affordable for the residents of Florida when compared to the cost of pursuing the same program elsewhere in some other major American states. The cost of tuition fees, for instance, at the Florida International University for the year 2021 is approximately $20,000 for the non-residents plus other living and boarding expenses and about $8000 for the residents of the state plus other living and boarding expenses. The fees structure for in-state students is different as compared to that for out-of-state students. The fees for in-state students are comparatively lower. To be more specific, the tuition fees for out-of-state candidates are almost double the amount paid by in-state candidates. The cost of living is also slightly higher than the national average with transportation costs being the highest. However, some of the cheapest cities in Florida are Live Oak, Fort Meade, Quincy, Macclenny, Clewiston.
List of Few Major Universities/Colleges
In Florida, higher education is known for being diverse with an inviting and comfortable environment for all students from across the world. Following are the top universities of Florida:
- University of Florida One of the top institutes of higher learning in Florida, is the University of Florida, situated in Gainsville. This public research university was founded in the year 1853, and ranks 30, nationally, according to the 2021 reports by US News. It has a comprehensive curriculum and offers more than 100 undergraduate programs and more than 200 graduate programs. It is indeed the best place for students wishing to have a sound educational career, by offering various job opportunities soon after college.
- University of Miami Situated in Coral Gables, the University of Miami is a private research institute with more than 18,000 students from the country and across the globe. It is, therefore, known as an institute with diverse communities as learners, excellent faculty, and provides the best teaching and learning experience. It was established in 1925. It offers more than 180 undergraduate programs and more than 150 graduate programs. English Language and Literature is the most popular major here. It ranks 49 in the 2021 edition of best colleges, according to US News. Notable alumni include celebrities like Dwayne Johnson, Sylvester Stallone, and singer Enrique Iglesias.
- University of Central Florida This is another one of the esteemed universities in Florida, situated in the city of Orlando. It is a public research institute founded in the year 1963, by the legislature of Florida. It boasts of a great faculty (above 12,000), providing more than 230-degree programs for students to choose from. Popular courses in this university include Engineering, Business and Marketing, Education, and Psychology.
- Florida State University Situated in the capital city of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida State University is one of the best Institutes of higher learning in the state. It has an enrollment of more than 44,000 students from the state, country, and across the globe. With a 21:1 student/teacher ratio, the university offers more than 270-degree programs for undergraduates, graduates, doctoral, and professionals. The national ranking of this university is 58, according to 2021 reports by US News.
Scholarships/Financial Aids for Students
Based on several categorical aspects such as academic merit and monetary needs, various scholarship programs and grants are made available by the state of Florida, to assist students concerning their requirements. Most grants are provided by the State government considering specific requirements. Most of the international pupils won't get any financial aid assistance from the US government. The 'Free Application For Federal Student Aid' (FAFSA) is to be filled by all students before applying for any kind of financial aid. Every financial aid supported by the federal or the state government depends on the FAFSA to determine the qualification of the candidate for grants and scholarships.
- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship: This scholarship program is for high school graduates from Florida who are planning to attend an undergraduate program in an accredited institution. It is categorized into three levels, namely, Florida Academic Scholars Award, Florida Medallion Scholars Award, and Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award. The eligibility requirements also vary based on each category. The Florida Academic Scholars are required to secure and maintain a 3.0 GPA, the Florida Medallion Scholars and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars are required to secure and maintain a GPA of 2.75. Other requirements include the submission of the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA), ACT or SAT scores, and high school transcripts. The award amount may vary based on the category as well as the credit hours.
- Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program: This program helps to provide monetary assistance to candidates who have enrolled at a private college or university. The student is required to be a Florida resident, pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, and take 12 credit hours each term. the candidate will not be eligible for the program in case he or she takes up theology or divinity as their course of study. The award amount varies each year, and to renew the award each year, the student is to maintain a minimum of 2.0 GPA.
- Effective Access to Student Education Program: This program helps to provide monetary assistance to candidates who have enrolled at a private or nonprofit institution. The student is required to be a Florida resident, pursuing their first bachelor’s degree, and take 12 credit hours each term. The candidate will not be eligible for the program in case he or she takes up theology or divinity as their course of study. The award amount varies based on legislative allocations.
- Josà Martà Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund: This scholarship program assists Hispanic students who demonstrate the required level of financial need. This program helps to cover the tuition fees. To be eligible, the candidate or the guardian must belong to a Hispanic country (like Mexico) and must have secured a minimum of 3.0 GPA by the end of the seventh semester of high school. The award amount is $2,000 per year.
- Florida Student Assistance Grant: This program is to provide monetary assistance to those students who are in dire financial need. To be eligible, the candidate is to be a resident of the state of Florida and should be enrolled in state-accredited universities and colleges or private colleges and post-secondary institutions. The grant money may vary each year but is enough to cover the tuition costs of the students.
Tourism
Tourism is one of the most important economic sectors in Florida as people from all over the globe continue to flock here every year for a vacation break. Spring season is the best time to visit the state, that is, any month between February and May. It is the prime dominion of beauty, enjoyment, and vacation. With its fun beaches, amusement parks, and national parks, Florida is a place of diverse art, architecture, and rich history. Walt Disney World is a widely popular tourist attraction that never fails to amuse and excite both kids and adults alike. On visiting Florida, one must not forget to try out the Florida Orange Juice with oranges being the official state fruit, the Florida stone crab, smoked fish, and the juiciest strawberries from the winter strawberry capital of the world.
Universities & Colleges in Florida
*UG - Undergraduate
*G - Graduate
*in - In-state Fees
*out - Out-of-State Fees
- Recommended program (Top 250)
