Florida · 2027 Rankings

Best Degree Completion Programs in Florida 2027

Florida is built around a 2+2 idea: finish an associate in arts at a Florida college and state law says you must be admitted to the upper division of a state university, with exceptions for limited access programs. That framework helps if your credits came from a Florida college. If they came from somewhere else, schools such as UWF and Saint Leo accept up to 90 credits, and UNF charges Florida residents far less per credit hour than nonresidents.

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2027 at a glance

Florida Degree Completion Programs at a Glance

  1. The #1 school for degree completion in Florida in 2027 is Florida International University, because 74% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $206 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 5 other colleges on this list).
  2. #2 is University of Florida: 81% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list).
  3. #3 is University of Central Florida: 69% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list).
The ranking

Degree Completion Programs in Florida, Ranked

#1
Miami, Florida

Florida International University

Bachelor of Health Services Administration

OnlineDegree completion route

Why it ranks #1: 74% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $206 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 5 other colleges on this list).

Florida International University built its Bachelor of Health Services Administration as an online upper-division track you can take part-time or full-time. You start with 60 completed credit hours or an AA or equivalent, plus the university core and BHSA prerequisites with a C or higher. The 60 credits of upper-division study cover health organization finances, health services research and policy and program evaluation.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
74% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
24%
Graduate Earnings in This Field
$56,867 median
Transfer Credits
Transfer applicants must meet FIU admission requirements; prerequisite courses are part of the lower-division coursework.
Degree Requirements
60 credits of upper-division BHSA coursework after the required lower-division study.
Study Schedule
Online upper-division track; part-time or full-time study.
#2
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida

BS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #2: 81% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list) and its online rate is $112 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 7 other colleges on this list).

The University of Florida offers its Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management online, with 120 total credits. If you arrive with 60 or more credits, the entry bar is generally a 2.0 overall and prerequisite GPA plus the required prerequisite courses. The curriculum covers event management, tourism, hospitality revenue management and marketing, and you finish with an approved internship or Academic Option.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
81% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
4%
Graduate Earnings
$65,370 median
Transfer Credits
Up to 60 transfer credits from a two-year college
Degree Requirements
120 total credits
Published Tuition
$111.92 per credit hour for Florida residents and $500.00 for nonresidents, before fees (UF Online undergraduate, 2025-26)
Study Schedule
Online coursework; approved internship or Academic Option
#3
Orlando, Florida

University of Central Florida

Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #3: 69% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $149 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 6 other colleges on this list).

You pick two subject-area concentrations, at least 15 credits each, in the online BA in Interdisciplinary Studies at UCF, which totals 120 credits. A cornerstone course opens the program and a capstone closes it. To get started, follow UCF Online's undergraduate admission process and work with a success coach on your intended major. Declare the major at least two semesters before you graduate.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
69% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
15%
Graduate Earnings in This Field
$51,959 median
Degree Requirements
120 total credits.
Study Schedule
An online BA route is available; the course plan must account for online elective and prerequisite availability.
#4
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University

Bachelor of Public Management

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #4: 66% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 6 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $105 per credit for Florida residents (the lowest on this list).

Florida Atlantic University's online Bachelor of Public Management has a 21-credit public management core within at least 120 total credits. U.S. government, macroeconomics, information systems and introductory statistics prepare you for advanced study. FAU evaluates transfer work under university rules, and any transferred major-field coursework needs written departmental approval, so ask for an evaluation early.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
66% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
17%
Graduate Earnings
$54,717 median
Transfer Credits
Up to 90 semester hours from a four-year institution
Based in Boca RatonExplore FAU’s Degree ↗
#5
Pensacola, Florida

The University of West Florida

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #5: Its online rate is $220 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 3 other colleges on this list) and 63% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 4 other colleges on this list).

Up to 90 transfer credits can count toward the online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the University of West Florida. The degree is 120 credits, including a 60-credit health-sciences major with a choice of specialized electives. You need the required prerequisite courses completed with a C or better and previous-college transcripts to apply.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
63% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
31%
Graduate Earnings in This Field
$55,704 median
Transfer Credits
Up to 90 transfer credits.
Degree Requirements
120 credits total.
Published Tuition
$220.23 per credit hour for Florida residents and $714.03 for non-Florida students, including fees (online undergraduate)
Based in PensacolaExplore UWF’s Degree ↗
#6
Jacksonville, Florida

University of North Florida

Bachelor of General Studies, Integrative General Studies

OnlineDegree completion route

Why it ranks #6: 64% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 5 other colleges on this list) and its online rate is $213 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 4 other colleges on this list).

Florida residents pay $212.98 per credit hour at UNF, against $765.14 for nonresidents, plus a $30 per credit hour fee for online classes. The Bachelor of General Studies asks for 60 completed credit hours and a 2.0 GPA, then 120 credits in total with 30 taken at UNF. Upper-level coursework is fully online in 16-week terms that start in fall, spring and summer.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
64% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
13%
Graduate Earnings
$55,478 median
Where You Start
60 completed credit hours and a 2.0 GPA or higher
Transfer Credits
Up to 90 credits (you take at least 30 of the 120 credits at UNF)
Degree Requirements
120 credits
Published Tuition
$212.98 per credit hour for Florida residents and $765.14 for nonresidents, plus a $30 per credit hour distance learning fee for online classes
#7
Daytona Beach, Florida

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide

BS in Project Management

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #7: Its graduates in this field earn a median $83,749 a year (the highest on this list) and 91% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 8 other colleges on this list).

Eligible technical transfer credit fits into the elective portion of Embry-Riddle Worldwide's online Bachelor of Science in Project Management, so work from a technical program can count. The degree totals 120 credits. The project core includes planning, risk and control, troubled projects, Agile methods and a capstone, alongside accounting, marketing, finance and operations. You submit official transcripts for review.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
35% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
91%
Graduate Earnings in This Field
$83,749 median
Where You Start
Transfer applicants submit official transcripts for review of previous college and other eligible learning.
Degree Requirements
120 total credits
Published Tuition
$542 per credit hour for civilian students (undergraduate, Worldwide Online, 2026-27)
Study Schedule
Online coursework
#8
Tampa, Florida

Schiller International University

BA in International Relations and Diplomacy

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #8: 91% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and 26% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years.

Schiller International University presents its 120 American credits as equivalent to 240 ECTS, which matters if some of your coursework was earned abroad. The online BA in International Relations and Diplomacy covers Modern Diplomacy and American Foreign Policy and ends with a thesis or project. Schiller reviews transfer credit for course equivalency, and that review is completed before your enrollment is finalized.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
26% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
91%
Where You Start
Schiller evaluates transfer credit for course equivalency; the transfer review must be completed before enrollment is finalized.
#9
Saint Leo, Florida

Saint Leo University

BA in Emergency Management

OnlineTransfer entry route

Why it ranks #9: 68% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 7 other colleges on this list) and it accepts up to 90 transfer credits.

Six start dates a year keep Saint Leo's online division flexible, and the BA in Emergency Management accepts a combined maximum of 90 credits from prior coursework and other approved sources. Applicants with at least 19 earned college credits need a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher. The 120-credit degree ends with an applied capstone, and at least 25% of credits must come from Saint Leo.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
34% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
68%
Graduate Earnings
$52,934 median
Where You Start
The online transfer route for applicants with at least 19 earned college credits requires official records showing a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher from qualifying institutions. Other applicants follow the published online admission process.
Transfer Credits
A combined maximum of 90 credits may apply from prior coursework and other approved sources; separate limits apply to credit categories.
Degree Requirements
120 total credits, including the Emergency Management BA requirements and applied capstone.
Study Schedule
The degree is offered online. Saint Leo's online division has six start dates each year.
#10
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Keiser University

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management

OnlineDegree completion route

Why it ranks #10: 43% of its undergraduates study fully online (higher than 6 other colleges on this list) and 51% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 3 other colleges on this list).

With an approved associate degree, Keiser University lets you enter a 60-credit completion option for the Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, part of a 120-credit bachelor's. The program requires an internship and offers an Esports Management concentration. It is a direct route if your associate degree is in hand and you want a bachelor's that builds on it.

Transfer Students Who Graduate
51% within 8 years
Undergraduates Fully Online
43%
Graduate Earnings in This Field
$45,187 median
Where You Start
Students with an approved associate degree may enter the published degree-completion option.
Degree Requirements
120 credits for the full bachelor’s degree.
Based in Fort LauderdaleExplore Keiser’s Degree ↗

Going Back to College in Florida

Florida residents pay resident rates at public universities, and the gap is large online: UNF charges $212.98 per credit hour to residents and $765.14 to nonresidents, plus a $30 distance learning fee. Transfer limits vary, so ask early. UWF and Saint Leo each accept up to 90 credits, and UNF requires 30 of the 120 credits for its Bachelor of General Studies. Florida's articulation law guarantees associate in arts graduates of the Florida College System upper-division admission to a state university, and FloridaShines offers free tools for researching transfer and tracking your progress.

FloridaShines

The state's student hub offers free online tools for adult learners, including research on transferring, a way to take a course at another Florida school, and a transcript view that shows whether you are on track to graduate.

Who qualifies: Open to students and adult learners at Florida public colleges and universities.

Visit the official FloridaShines page ↗

Florida Statewide Articulation Agreement

Florida law keeps the 2+2 system of articulation: every associate in arts graduate of a Florida College System institution has met general education requirements and must be admitted to the upper division of a state university, except for limited access, teacher certification or audition-based programs.

How we ranked

Every college on every state list is scored the same way, out of 100. The measures, from most to least weight:

  • Transfer Student Completion (25%): the share of transfer students who earn a degree within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures).
  • Cost per Credit (20%): the online per-credit rate the school publishes, at the resident rate for in-state schools, or the federal per-credit charge when no online rate is published.
  • Transfer Credit Maximum (15%): the most transfer credit the featured degree accepts, from the school’s own policy.
  • Online Experience (15%): the share of undergraduates who study fully online (IPEDS).
  • Graduate Earnings (15%): median earnings of the school’s graduates in that field (College Scorecard).
  • School Reputation (10%): a rating of how employers regard the school’s bachelor’s degrees, made the same way for every school from its published facts.

When a measure is missing for a college, it gets the middle value for that measure, so missing data never helps a school move up.

Read the full state ranking method ↗
Before you call an admissions office

Questions About Finishing Your Degree in Florida

Which School Has the Best Degree Completion Program in Florida?

The #1 school for degree completion in Florida in 2027 is Florida International University, because 74% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 8 other colleges on this list) and its rate is $206 per credit for Florida residents (lower than 5 other colleges on this list). #2 is University of Florida: 81% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (the highest on this list). #3 is University of Central Florida: 69% of its transfer students earn a degree within eight years (higher than 7 other colleges on this list). The order comes from transfer student graduation rates, cost per credit, transfer credit limits, online experience, graduate earnings and school reputation, weighted the same way for every state.

Does an Associate in Arts Degree Guarantee Admission to a Florida State University?

For graduates of the Florida College System, yes in most cases. State law says every associate in arts graduate has met general education requirements and must be admitted to the upper division of a state university. The exceptions are limited access programs, teacher certification programs and majors that require an audition, so check your major before you apply.

What Will Online Tuition Cost if I Live Outside Florida?

It can cost several times more. At the University of North Florida, one credit hour costs $212.98 for Florida residents and $765.14 for nonresidents, and online classes add a $30 per credit hour distance learning fee. Check each school's nonresident rate before you compare programs, because prices at Florida schools vary widely by residency.

How Many Credits Can I Transfer Into a Florida Online Degree?

Up to 90 credits at the University of West Florida for its Health Sciences degree, and a combined maximum of 90 at Saint Leo University. The University of North Florida needs 30 of the 120 credits for its Bachelor of General Studies to be taken there. Keiser University offers a 60-credit completion option if you hold an approved associate degree.

Sources for the Florida Rankings

College facts come from each school’s own degree, admission, transfer and tuition pages. Graduation, online enrollment and earnings figures come from federal data that every college reports the same way.

View 37 Source Records
  1. Bachelor of Health Services Administration (BHSA) | FIU Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  2. Admissions | FIU Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  3. BS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management: Curriculum and Online Delivery
  4. UF Online BS in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management: Official degree curriculum
  5. Transfer Credit - UF Online
  6. Tuition and Fees - UF Online
  7. UCF: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
  8. UCF: current Interdisciplinary Studies BA catalog
  9. UCF Online | Undergraduate Admission Information
  10. Bachelors in Public Management | Florida Atlantic University
  11. Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Programs | Florida Atlantic University
  12. Undergraduate Advising FAQ - Florida Atlantic University
  13. Online Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (BSHS) | UWF, University of West Florida
  14. Tuition, Costs & Fees - UWF Online
  15. Bachelor of General Studies | UNF College of Arts and Sciences (eligibility)
  16. Tuition & Fees, Undergraduate | University of North Florida
  17. UNF Online Programs | University of North Florida
  18. Bachelor of General Studies | UNF College of Arts and Sciences (disciplinary areas)
  19. Tuition & Fees, Undergraduate | University of North Florida (distance learning fee)
  20. Bachelor of General Studies | UNF College of Arts and Sciences
  21. B.S. in Project Management | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Academic Catalog
  22. Embry-Riddle undergraduate transfer admission
  23. Tuition and Costs - Embry-Riddle
  24. Online BA in International Relations and Diplomacy
  25. Schiller International University FAQs
  26. Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management | Saint Leo University
  27. Online Student Admissions | Saint Leo University
  28. Transfer Policies | Saint Leo University
  29. Sport Management Degree - Keiser University
  30. Florida Statutes 1007.23, Statewide Articulation Agreement
  31. Florida Statutes 1007.23, Statewide Articulation Agreement (2+2)
  32. FloridaShines
  33. FloridaShines (transfer and courses)
  34. IPEDS Outcome Measures, 2024 Provisional Release (National Center for Education Statistics)
  35. IPEDS Fall Enrollment: Distance Education Status, 2024 (National Center for Education Statistics)
  36. IPEDS Institutional Characteristics: Tuition and Fees, 2024 (National Center for Education Statistics)
  37. College Scorecard: Field of Study Earnings (U.S. Department of Education)
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