Best Online Colleges in Florida 2024

The Sunshine State is a great place to attend college — even if it’s online. In fact, an online college may lend you the flexible schedule you need to spend time on Florida’s white-sand beaches.

Online colleges in Florida provide excellent educational opportunities to residents and nonresidents alike. Online Florida universities offer many of the same advantages as on-campus schools, such as career advising, library services, and institutional financial aid programs.

Read About Our Methodology Here

As you might already know, not all online colleges in Florida with attractive websites offer high-quality degrees. You can separate the best Florida online colleges from the rest by checking their accreditation status.

College accreditation involves a multistep process that includes satisfying many eligibility requirements and undergoing evaluation by an outside agency.

Research whether programs that interest you hold institutional accreditation from a reputable agency, such as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC accreditation shows that a college’s online programs offer the same rigor and outcomes as its in-person degrees. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation website lets you explore other agencies’ reputations.

The Florida Department of Education also evaluates college accreditation agencies and approves the best ones. Florida recognizes 38 accrediting agencies as of April 2022.

Online colleges in Florida can help you save money on a degree, especially if you hold in-state residency.

In-state students at two-year public schools paid just over $2,500 per year in tuition and fees in 2020-2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Learners attending public four-year schools spent more for a bachelor’s degree.

Expect to pay nearly four times the in-state tuition rate if you lack Florida residency. However, you will still spend less than your peers attending private four-year colleges or universities.

While reviewing these figures, remember that textbooks and other required materials add to your total cost of attendance (COA). Online Florida universities’ admissions and financial aid departments can help you determine an exact COA. These professionals can also assist you with filling out the FAFSA.

Simplify your search for Florida online universities by exploring what those in different cities offer. The advantages of attending a local online school in Florida include qualifying for hybrid programs and making professional connections within your community.

Online colleges in Florida can prepare you for one of many careers featuring a high salary and rapid projected growth.

Note that factors such as work experience, education, and geographic location can affect your salary. Also, actual job growth may differ from BLS projections due to unexpected economic developments, such as a recession.

Sources: Projections Central, BLS

Most of the highest-paying jobs in Florida require a medical degree. In 2021, anesthesiologists in Florida earned a median annual salary of $363,570. Unfortunately, you cannot earn this degree online, as becoming a doctor requires intensive hands-on training. However, aspiring chief executives and pilots may explore hybrid programs.

Use your school’s enrollment counselors to research which stages of your educational journey online learning may benefit you.

Source: BLS

You must establish residency in Florida for 12 months to qualify. However, Florida denies in-state tuition requests from residents 23 and younger who rely on out-of-state parents or guardians for tuition payments.

You can prove residency to your school by providing one form of accepted documentation, such as vehicle registration, a driver’s license, or a voter registration card. Consult your college’s admissions department to learn more about other ways to gain in-state student status.

Florida features 40 public colleges and universities offering the best tuition rate to in-state students. The state also hosts 30 private colleges with full accreditation and nonprofit status. Many of these schools offer online and hybrid programs.

Note that these 70 schools do not include private for-profit colleges. Research for-profit schools’ accreditations and reputations before enrolling.

Public schools within the Florida College System offered residents the most affordable tuition rate in the 2020-2021 school year. They charged only $72 per credit for an associate degree and $92 per credit for a bachelor’s degree. Nonresidents paid $216.

You can lower your COA in many ways, such as by qualifying for federal grants and exploring private scholarships. Both reduce your reliance on student loans and set you up for long-term financial well-being.

Most Florida university online programs do not require you to live in the state. Hybrid degrees and those qualifying graduates for a Florida state license may restrict applicants to residents. You can determine eligibility for one of these programs by researching colleges’ websites or contacting their admissions departments.

Many top private and public online colleges in Florida offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. Online programs use the same admission and graduation requirements as their on-campus counterparts. Benefits such as asynchronous education may let you continue working full or part time while in school.

Research online Florida universities the same way you would on-campus ones. Comparing tuition, offered degrees, and student services can help you make an informed decision.