Finding an excellent school is challenging, especially since many are out there. However, the real challenge starts with finding cheap colleges and universities with quality educational systems. You want an institution that you can learn a lot from but, simultaneously, something you can afford.
There are many cheap schools in Florida that you can check out, although tuition prices vary depending on whether you are an in-state, out-of-state, or international student. Here are some of the college in Florida that you can take a good look at.
Affordable Schools in Florida for International Students
1. Broward College
In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Broward College is an affordable public college offering vocational qualifications, associate degrees, and four-year bachelor’s degrees. With three campuses, Broward College educates over 60,000 students every year. It also has four international education centers that educate overseas students up to the associate degree level.
With over 5,000 faculty and staff members and an endowment of $75 million, Broward provides high-quality education despite the relatively low tuition fees. Its athletics program is particularly noteworthy. Prominent alums include rocker Marilyn Manson, actress Nancy Valen, and novelist Rita Mae Brown.
2. Santa Fe College
Established in 1965, Santa Fe College is a cheap college in Gainesville, Florida. Its main campus is situated in the northeast part of the area. Although the academic focuses on associate degrees in technology and the applied sciences, the institution also offers associate degrees in the liberal arts and bachelor’s degrees.
Santa Fe College has an enrollment of over 22,000 students, most of whom are studying part-time. Students can use a $10 million library, including a conference room, computerized classrooms, DVD viewing stations, over 80 computers, and a comprehensive online catalog of books and other media. Moreover, the school has won numerous awards for the excellence of its academic programs.
3. College of Central Florida
Ranked among the top 5% of colleges in the United States for affordability, the College of Central Florida has campuses in Marion, Levy, and Citrus counties. It also operates the Appleton Museum of Art and a 103-acre farm. The institution offers certificate programs along with associate and bachelor’s degrees.
The College of Central Florida was founded in 1957 and is a member of the Florida College System. Over 10,000 students are enrolled at the college, most of them in the Associate in Arts program. The school also has a highly successful athletics program, with notable successes in men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and women’s volleyball.
4. Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College was founded in 1959 in Miami, Florida. With over 165,000 students, it is the cheapest college in Florida and the second-largest college in the United States. Its main campus is the Wolfson campus, situated in downtown Miami.
Miami Dade College consists of eight campuses and two additional centers. It also hosts the School of Advanced Studies, which enables high school students to earn an associate degree and diploma. While the academic focuses on associate programs, the school also offers three bachelor’s degrees.
This affordable institution also has noteworthy sports programs in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s baseball, and women’s volleyball. Famous alumni include the former president of Panama, Mireya Moscoso, Harvard Law professor Jose Baez, and the actors Sylvester Stallone, Steven Bauer, and Oscar Isaac.
5. Pensacola State College
Established in 1948, Pensacola State College is one of Florida’s oldest colleges. The college includes an adult high school, vocational courses, and associate and bachelor’s degree programs. Over 26,000 students have recently enrolled at the school, which has six campuses. They can choose from over 100 programs and use the latest high-tech resources.
To accommodate students with diverse needs, Pensacola State College offers courses during the day and night and also online. The school provides highly lauded online bachelor’s degrees. If you want to study at one of the cheap colleges in Florida, this is one! It also has noteworthy basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball athletics programs.
6. Palm Beach State College
Established in 1933, Palm Beach State College is a cheap state college in Florida with over 36,000 students. Its main campus is in Palm Beach County, Florida, and there are additional campuses at five different locations. Its largest campus is in Lake Worth. The college’s large student body is enrolled in over 130 programs, including courses leading to associate and bachelor’s degrees.
The Associate in Arts degree remains the most popular, with the nursing program attracting many students. The college athletics teams are nicknamed the Panthers and have achieved noteworthy successes in baseball. Moreover, famous people who have studied at Palm Beach State College include the actors Burt Reynolds and Judge Reinhold, Olympic Gold medalist Yolanda Griffiths, and Olympian Chrysti Bustos.
7. Daytona State College
Founded in 1957, Daytona State College is part of the Florida College System. The school enrolls over 20,000 students annually in Daytona Beach, Florida. Learners in this college can pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees in education, business, healthcare, computer science, engineering, and more programs accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Moreover, Daytona State College is very active in athletics, with eight NJCAA Team National Championship titles. The institution has especially noteworthy baseball, basketball, swimming, and women’s golf programs. Olympian Tiffany Chan and NBA basketball player Solomon Jones are alumni of this college.
8. Eastern Florida State College
Founded in 1960, Eastern Florida State College is widely regarded as one of Florida’s most prestigious state institutions because of its innovative programs and teaching methods. The school offers over 150 certificates and bachelor’s and associate’s programs, with an average enrollment of 18,000 students annually. Moreover, with its advanced degrees and vocational training, it is also an excellent choice for adults interested in changing jobs or improving their workforce skills and abilities.
EFSC has four campuses spread across the more than 70-mile-long length of Brevard County, located on the east coast of Florida, to offer a good space center for aspiring adults. The college also has a virtual campus for people who live far from Florida and would prefer not to go to the campus.
9. Valencia College
Valencia College in Florida prides itself on having a good reputation for helping its students succeed in their fields. This is due to the excellent learning environment they were exposed to in college. Moreover, as a recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the school was recognized nationally for its Associate in Science and Associate in Arts degrees in 2011-2012.
This cheap college in Florida is known for providing a good quality of education at an affordable price for everyone who applies. Furthermore, with the institution’s financial aid, almost one-third of students never have to pay anything to attend Valencia College. Over 1,000 international students from 104 countries are currently enrolled, showing its diversity and culture.
10. Gulf Coast State College
The following cheap college in Florida is the Gulf Coast State College. This public institution provides its constituents with good training, high-quality education, and many different enrichment programs to develop skills in their students. It also offers affordable tuition rates to be more inducive for those who want to study in college.
Gulf Coast State College, situated on the lake in Panama City, Florida, grants bachelor’s degrees with concentrations in entrepreneurship, emergency services, and health services management. In addition, you can also finish Associate in Science degrees tailored to specific industries, technical certificates, and more than 70 transfer courses available for AA students.
11. Northwest Florida State College
Northwest Florida State College is a public community college with about 8,300 students enrolled yearly. It is among Florida’s public state and community college systems near the panhandle’s coastal center. The institution has over ten majors and offers various certifications, five bachelor’s, and 23 associate degrees.
This public institution is a good place that offers high-quality education at affordable prices, which will surely be enticing. Moreover, their faculty-to-student ratio is about 1:26, which is optimal for learning in small classes.
12. State College of Florida Manatee – Sarasota
The largest and oldest college in its region, the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota, is undoubtedly one of the best. Established in 1959, this cheap school in Florida has a suburban setting. It provides affordable prices and a good-quality education that meets the demands and expectations of the students. The college provides students with over 30 workforce certificates, four-year bachelor’s degrees, an associate transfer degree, and online classes.
The institution also participates in and supports the arts and community events in the area, with its students involved in clubs, academic teams, and student government. Moreover, they can join competitive and intramural sports, theatrical performances, musical events, and more.
13. Florida State College at Jacksonville
The Florida State College at Jacksonville is among the top-ranking colleges in Florida. It is known for emphasizing values and beliefs, being student-friendly, and being relatively low-priced. With over 10 bachelor’s degrees, 45 associate degrees, and over a hundred technical and occupational certifications, FSCJ offers a degree program for every student.
Not only that, but this affordable institution also offers online and hybrid classes for students who cannot regularly attend school. Students can also receive financial aid programs to reduce college costs. These include grants, scholarship opportunities, work-study programs, and employer tuition assistance.
14. College of the Florida Keys
After undergoing several changes since its 1965 establishment as “Monroe County Junior College,” the institution rebranded itself in 2019 as The College of the Florida Keys, or CFK, to reflect its status as a baccalaureate-granting institution. This school, part of the Florida College System, has been a pillar of higher education in Monroe County and beyond. It’s also the most southern college in the continental USA, with two satellite facilities in the Upper and Middle Keys.
CFK offers many non-credit courses, certificates, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees with popular programs in marine engineering, marine science, diving, public safety, renewable energy engineering, and other specializations. You can check out the different programs on its online sites.
Florida has many colleges and universities that will appeal to students looking for cheap tuition fees. While the costs are especially low for in-state students, they are also affordable for out-of-state and international students. With its fantastic climate, it is unsurprising that Florida remains a top-rated destination for students.
We hope this article on the cheapest universities in Florida was helpful. Make sure also to check out the Study in the USA page and Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
