# Best Communications Colleges in Florida

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 26 | Category: By State
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-florida

## Methodology

Communications programs in Florida ranked by outcomes and program concentration

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Choosing the right communications program in Florida can significantly impact your future career. With 26 colleges offering specialized degrees in this field, it's essential to evaluate not just what's taught, but how well graduates fare once they enter the job market.

What sets the strongest programs apart are their outcomes: earnings potential, graduation rates, student debt, and overall completion rates. These metrics are key indicators of how well a school prepares students for the realities of the workforce. In this list, you’ll see how the top schools compare, providing insights into which institutions might align best with your goals.

For instance, the University of Florida and Florida International University both offer strong programs, but their outcomes tell different stories. While both schools have solid graduation rates, UF boasts an impressive $71,588 in average earnings, compared to FIU's $60,249, reflecting a significant difference in post-graduation financial success.

## Key Findings

- University of Florida graduates earn an average of $71,588, significantly above the state average of $54,022.
- The University of Florida-Online has a lower net price of $4,815 compared to $10,411 at the University of Central Florida.
- Florida International University graduates have a graduation rate of 74%, which is lower than the 91% rate at the University of Florida.
- Students at Florida State University face an average debt of $18,000, higher than the $15,000 debt at both UF and FIU.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [University of Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida) | Gainesville, FL | 91% | $71,588 | $6,541 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 2 | [University of Central Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-central-florida) | Orlando, FL | 77% | $58,308 | $10,411 | $18,190 | 0.31x |
| 3 | [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-florida-online) | Gainesville, FL | 81% | $71,588 | $4,815 | $15,000 | 0.21x |
| 4 | [University of North Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-north-florida) | Jacksonville, FL | 69% | $56,343 | $10,154 | $15,531 | 0.28x |
| 5 | [Florida International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-international-university) | Miami, FL | 74% | $60,249 | $9,288 | $16,500 | 0.27x |
| 6 | [Florida Atlantic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-atlantic-university) | Boca Raton, FL | 63% | $56,746 | $8,752 | $17,236 | 0.3x |
| 7 | [University of South Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-south-florida) | Tampa, FL | 76% | $57,743 | $9,812 | $17,988 | 0.31x |
| 8 | [Florida State University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-state-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 84% | $61,675 | $11,297 | $18,000 | 0.29x |
| 9 | [University of West Florida](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-west-florida) | Pensacola, FL | 60% | $49,137 | $9,364 | $16,624 | 0.34x |
| 10 | [Florida Gulf Coast University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-gulf-coast-university) | Fort Myers, FL | 57% | $54,560 | $12,568 | $17,622 | 0.32x |
| 11 | [University of Miami](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-miami) | Coral Gables, FL | 84% | $75,328 | $37,244 | $17,500 | 0.23x |
| 12 | [Rollins College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rollins-college) | Winter Park, FL | 76% | $58,295 | $34,732 | $25,500 | 0.44x |
| 13 | [Stetson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stetson-university) | DeLand, FL | 63% | $51,642 | $19,372 | $23,250 | 0.45x |
| 14 | [Florida Southern College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-southern-college) | Lakeland, FL | 70% | $55,294 | $28,551 | $25,000 | 0.45x |
| 15 | [Florida College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-college) | Temple Terrace, FL | 53% | $43,445 | $23,931 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 16 | [The University of Tampa](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/the-university-of-tampa) | Tampa, FL | 63% | $59,436 | $36,211 | $24,211 | 0.41x |
| 17 | [Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-agricultural-and-mechanical-university) | Tallahassee, FL | 53% | $44,349 | $13,739 | $23,548 | 0.53x |
| 18 | [Palm Beach Atlantic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/palm-beach-atlantic-university) | West Palm Beach, FL | 57% | $49,232 | $28,354 | $22,500 | 0.46x |
| 19 | [Flagler College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/flagler-college) | Saint Augustine, FL | 56% | $49,483 | $30,525 | $24,250 | 0.49x |
| 20 | [Southeastern University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southeastern-university) | Lakeland, FL | 43% | $46,744 | $31,942 | $21,500 | 0.46x |
| 21 | [Lynn University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/lynn-university) | Boca Raton, FL | 52% | $49,006 | $44,089 | $17,940 | 0.37x |
| 22 | [Barry University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/barry-university) | Miami, FL | 37% | $55,966 | $22,613 | $26,997 | 0.48x |
| 23 | [Webber International University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/webber-international-university) | Babson Park, FL | 27% | $45,606 | $29,529 | $25,250 | 0.55x |
| 24 | [Bethune-Cookman University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bethune-cookman-university) | Daytona Beach, FL | 29% | $38,518 | $12,030 | $31,000 | 0.8x |
| 25 | [Ave Maria University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/ave-maria-university) | Ave Maria, FL | 55% | $49,520 | $24,860 | $20,776 | 0.42x |
| 26 | [Edward Waters University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/edward-waters-university) | Jacksonville, FL | 28% | $34,782 | $13,649 | N/A | N/A |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Best Communications Colleges in Florida." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/best-communications-florida

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.
