FloridaThere are nearly 50 four-year colleges and universities in the state of Florida.  The third largest state by population, Florida has some of the largest public university campuses in the country.  If you think you’d like to pursue higher learning in The Sunshine State, here are the 30 safest colleges in Florida.

For the sake of this list, a “college” is considered any accredited public or private not-for-profit institution that offers four-year degree programs. Campus crime stats, graduation rates, and student retention rates were taken from U.S. Department of Education annual reports. Campus crime rates are based on the number of crimes per 1,000 residents.

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#1 The Baptist College of Florida, Graceville, FL

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Located in the northern panhandle city of Graceville, The Baptist College of Florida (BCF) is a private Christian College that is affiliated with the Florida Baptist Convention.  The school was founded in 1943, serves over 700 enrolled students, and offers degree programs in more than fifteen different areas.  BCF is the safest school in Florida.  The freshman retention rate here is 83%, the graduation rate at this school is 36.8%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#2 Carlos Albizu University – Miami, Miami, FL

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Carlos Albizu University is a private university in Miami that also has a campus in Puerto Rico.  The school specializes in psychology programs but also has both education and business departments.  Another safe choice in The Sunshine State, the freshman retention rate here is an impressive 100%, the graduation rate is 17.4%, and the rate of on-campus crime is 0.

#3 Everglades University, Boca Raton, FL

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Located in Boca Raton, Everglades University is a private university that serves over 600 enrolled students.  The school was founded in 1998, offers both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and was included on U.S. News and World Report’s 2016 list of best colleges for veterans.  The freshman retention rate here is 72%, the graduation rate is 62%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#4 Nova Southeastern University , Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a private university that is located on a 300-acre campus in Fort Lauderdale.  NSU serves more than 24,100 students and offers more than 250 majors through its 18 colleges and schools.  The freshman retention rate here is 71%, the rate of graduation at the school is 40.5%, and the on-campus crime rate at Nova is 0.

#5 Hodges University, Naples, FL

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Located in Naples, Hodges University is a private university that serves more than 2,100 students.  Formerly known as International College, the school has been open for over 25 years and has an average class size of just 14 students.  The freshman retention rate at Hodges is 49%, the graduation rate here is 30%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#6 Florida College, Temple Terrace, FL

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Florida College is a small private Christian college located in the Tampa suburb of Temple Terrace.  The school serves over 500 enrolled students, offers seven different bachelor’s degree programs, and is considered an important training center for ministers.  The freshman retention rate at Florida College is 67%, the graduation rate here is 49.8%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#7 Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL

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A private Christian liberal arts college, Southeastern University is located in the city of Lakeland and is affiliated with the Assemblies of God.  The school was founded in 1935, serves over 4,500 students, and offers 60 different degree programs.  The freshman retention rate here is 69%, the school’s graduation rate is 38.4%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#8 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL

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Also known as just Embry-Riddle, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a private research university located in Daytona Beach.  The school was founded in 1926 as a flying school, has a sister campus in Arizona, and is known for its partnerships with the aerospace industry.  The Daytona Beach campus has an enrollment of over 5,800 students.  The freshman retention rate at Embry-Riddle is 78%, the graduation rate is 56.9%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#9 Adventist University of Health Sciences, Orlando, FL

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Located in Orlando, Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) is a private Seventh-day Adventist university that specializes in nursing and applied health programs.  The school was founded in 1992, serves over 3,000 students, and offers degrees from nine different departments.  The freshman retention rate at ADU is 71%, the rate of graduation here is 39.5%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#10 Palm Beach Atlantic University, West Palm Beach, FL

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Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private Christian non-denominational university that serves over 2,500 undergraduate students.  The school was founded in 1968, is located in West Palm Beach near the Atlantic beaches, and promises students small class sizes.  The freshman retention rate here is 73%, the graduation rate is 46.7%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#11 Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL

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Located in the city of Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) is a public university and the newest school in the state’s university system.  Founded in 1991, the school now serves over 14,400 students and offers more than 85 degree programs through its six college and schools.  The freshman retention rate here is 77%, the graduation rate at FGCU is 44.2%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#12 Flagler College – St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL

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Flagler College is a private liberal arts college in the city of St. Augustine.  The school was founded in 1968, serves more than 2,500 students, and offers 29 areas of study.  Flagler College was included on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Regional Colleges in the South.”  The freshman retention rate here is 67%, the school’s graduation rate is 63.1%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#13 Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL

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Located on a 130-acre campus in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) is a private research university that serves more than 6,300 students.  The school was founded in 1958 and offers degree programs through its six schools that emphasize STEM areas of study as well as aviation.  The freshman retention rate here is 80%, the graduation rate at FIT is 54.4%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#14 St. Thomas University – Florida, Miami Gardens, FL

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St. Thomas University (STU) is a private Roman Catholic university that is located on a 160-acre campus in Miami Gardens.  The school was founded in 1961, borders a monastery, and has five distinct schools and colleges as well as a separate college of law.  The freshman retention rate at STU is 62%, the school’s graduation rate is 38.3%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#15 Florida International University, Miami, FL

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Located on a 573-acre campus in the Miami suburb of University Park, Florida International University (FIU) is a public research university that is considered a “tier one” school.  The university was founded in 1965, serves over 54,000 students, and offers more than 280 majors through its 23 colleges and schools.  The freshman retention rate at FIU is 84%, the graduation rate here is 51.6%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#16 Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL

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Florida Atlantic University (FAU) is a public state university located on a 805-acre campus in the city of Boca Raton.  The school was founded in 1961, serves over 30,800 students, and offers more than 180 degree programs through its ten colleges.  The freshman retention rate at FAU is 77%, the graduation rate here is 41.1%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#17 University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL

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Located on a 1,878-acre campus in Orlando, the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public state university.  With more than 60,800 enrolled students, the school is the largest state university in the country by undergraduate enrollment and is ranked among the top 100 public universities by U.S. News & World Report.  The freshman retention rate at UCF is 87%, the graduation rate here is 67.2%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#18 University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

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The University of South Florida (USF) is a public state university that is located on a 1,913-acre campus in Tampa serving over 48,700 students.  The school was founded in 1956, is the fourth-largest public university in the state, and offers more than 200 degree programs through 14 colleges including a medical school. The freshman retention rate here is 89%, the graduation rate at USF is 63.2%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#19 University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL

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Located on a 1,300-acre campus in the city of Jacksonville, the University of North Florida (UNF) is a public state university that serves over 16,100 students.  The school was founded in 1972, is surrounded by nature preserves, and offers students more than 75 degree programs through its five colleges.  The freshman retention rate at UNF is 82%, the school’s graduation rate is 50%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#20 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

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Considered a senior member of the state’s university system, the University of Florida (UF) is located on a 2,000-acre campus in Gainesville.    The school was founded in 1853, serves over 49,000 students, and is home to sixteen colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes.  The freshman retention rate at UF is 96%, the graduation rate here is 86.5%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#21 University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

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A private research university in the Coral Gables area of Miami, the University of Miami (UM) serves over 16,700 students.  The school was founded in 1925, offer more than 200 degree programs, and has 12 separate colleges including a law school.  The freshman retention rate here is 91%, UM’s graduation rate is 81.7%, and the on-campus crime rate here is 0.

#22 Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL

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Located on a 110-acre campus in Lakeland, Florida Southern College (FSC) is a private college that serves over 2,800 students.  The school was founded in 1883, is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, and offers more than 50 degree programs.  FSC also holds the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.  The freshman retention rate here is 78%, the graduation rate is 58.2%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#23 Stetson University, DeLand, FL

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Stetson University is a private university located on a 175-acre campus in Deland.  The school was founded in 1883, serves over 4,300 students, and was included on U.S. News & World Report’s list of best regional universities in the South.  There is also a separate law school in the city of Gulfport. The freshman retention rate at Stetson is 78%, the school’s graduation rate is 64.1%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#24 Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL

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Located on a 240-acre campus in Jacksonville, Jacksonville University (JU) is a private, nonsectarian university that serves over 3,700 enrolled students.  The school was founded in 1934, offers more than 70 degree programs, and is known for its professional flight training school.  The freshman retention rate at JU is 72%, the graduation rate here is 38.2%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#25 University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

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The University of West Florida (UWF) is a public state university that is located on a 1,600-acre campus in the panhandle city of Pensacola.  The school was established in 1963, serves over 12,700 students, and offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degrees through its three colleges.  The freshman retention rate at UWF is 70%, the school’s graduation rate is 42.3%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#26 Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

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Located in Tallahassee, Florida A&M University (FAMU) is a public historically black university that serves over 9,900 enrolled students.  The school was founded in 1887, is one of the largest historically black colleges in the country, and offers more than 100 degree programs through its 13 colleges and schools.  FAMU’s freshman retention rate is 82%, the graduation rate here is 40.9%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#27 Florida State University. Tallahassee, FL

Also located in Tallahassee, Florida State University (FSU) is a senior member of the state university system that serves over 41,700 students.  The school was founded in 1851, has a 1,391-acre campus, and offers students the choice of more than 360 programs of study through its 16 different colleges.  The freshman retention rate at FSU is 92%, the school’s graduation rate is 76.9%, and the on-campus crime rate is 0.

#28 Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, FL

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A private Baptist university in the Miami suburb of Miami Gardens, Florida Memorial University serves over 1,800 students.  The school was founded in 1879, is affiliated with both the American Baptist Churches USA and the National Baptist Convention, and offers students more than 40 degree programs.  The freshman retention rate at this school is 69%, the graduation rate here is 39.6%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#29 Trinity Baptist College

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Trinity Baptist College (TBC) is a private college located in the city of Jacksonville.  The school was established in 1974, is affiliated with the Independent Baptist churches, and serves over 300 enrolled students.  The freshman retention rate at TBC is 47%, the graduation rate here is 38.9%, and the rate of crime on campus is 0.

#30 Ringling College of Art & Design, Sarasota, FL

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Located in the city of Sarasota, the Ringling College of Art and Design is a private college that serves more than 1,400 students.  Originally founded as an art school in 1931, the school now offers degrees in such areas as game art, computer animation, illustration, painting, and graphic design.  The freshman retention rate here is 78%, the graduation rate is 65%, and the on-campus crime rate is 1.

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