Exploring the Top Universities in Central Florida for Aspiring Students

When you think about Florida, three things probably come to mind: oranges, theme parks, and universities. Central Florida holds just as many higher education institutions as it does families with annual Disney passes and acres of orange groves. If you are a high school student and wondering about where you can get a great education in the sunshine almost all year, look no further than this guide. Here is the ranking of the top universities in Central Florida. 

1. University of Central Florida (UCF)

Location: Orlando, FL 

UCF is home to more than 70,000 students. It has great engineering and research facilities which is great if you fancy being in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. You humanities lovers fear not: there is ample space and lots of resources for you too. And, if that isn’t enough to convince you, UCF is located near several theme parks. It is quite possible for you to run into Mickey Mouse on your way to the cafeteria to grab a bacon cheeseburger for a study break. If you want to extend your pause from college work even further, consider buying original essays for sale online. There are numerous great writing services, such as TopEssayWriting, where you can order a paper for any occasion. 

2. Florida State University College of Medicine (FSU)

Location: Tallahassee, FL with a regional campus in Orlando 

We all know that some of the country’s best doctors come from the Ivy League, but we’re here to tell you that FSU is no slouch when it comes to medicine, either. This is especially true when it comes to FSU’s College of Medicine, which offers a community-based approach to medical education. That’s right, as a student at FSU, you don’t just learn about medicine in a classroom; you’ll get the chance to practice it in the local health clinics and hospitals, benefitting your community at the same time. So, if you’ve ever dreamed of wearing a white coat and helping people, Florida State may earn you some stripes. 

3. Rollins College

Location: Winter Park, FL 

Rollins College, located in the charming town of Winter Park, has the type of campus you might see in a college brochure – it really is that idyllic. This small college, which offers a traditional humanities-based liberal arts education, has a student-to-faculty ratio that ensures every class is a VIP event, and students are just a short walk (if that) away from cozy cafés and boutiques up and down Park Avenue. 

4. University of Tampa

Location: Tampa, FL 

It’s a bit of a cheat since it is on the western fringe of Central Florida, but we had to include it. The University of Tampa’s beautiful, Moorish-styled campus, with its famous minarets, offers programs from the arts to business, the latter belonging to a notable business school that will prepare you for life on Wall Street. 

5. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Location: Daytona Beach, FL 

And for the budding pilots, junior Buck Rogers adventurers, and slightly geeky av-tech types among you out there, Embry-Riddle is more than just a university: it’s a launchpad to the stars. Embry-Riddle has corporate partnerships with aircraft manufacturers such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon, with advanced flight simulators and airfields nestled among the dry heat and expansive skies of the US Southwest as a global hub for aviation and aerospace undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs.  

6. Stetson University

Location: DeLand, FL 

If you gravitate to a campus culture that’s ‘small enough that you’ll get to know most everyone on your campus but large enough to give you the chance to achieve a transformative life career, Stetson University could be your ticket. Located in DeLand – a small, historical town famous for its beer – Stetson is noted for its music and law programs. Stetson is a community where you not only get a rigorous academic experience but also a lot of support. 

7. Florida Polytechnic University

Location: Lakeland, FL 

Florida Polytechnic University, a state university that’s only been open since 2014, is the STEM-only school of the group. With structures that seem to have come right from a spaceship, the school is unapologetically futuristic. Florida Poly is right for you if innovation, tech, and robots are your thing. 

The Sunshine Path to Success 

Picking a university is a big and scary move and a significant decision, but the best thing about Central Florida is that it has a little bit of everything for everyone. Do you want to fly planes, debate in a courtroom, or engineer the next iPhone? Then it is likely that there is a university in Central Florida that aligns with your interests. Get your sunglasses at the ready because this educational journey is going to be as bright as the Florida sun!