Colleges in Jacksonville: Full List of Schools

Are you considering college in Jacksonville? The largest city by landmass in the contiguous United States boasts four private and public four-year colleges that offer some of the best bachelor’s programs in Florida — and graduate degrees.

These four schools feature high acceptance rates, which can translate into a more diverse student body than selective colleges.

Find a college in Jacksonville that suits your budget and interests. In this guide, we break down the most popular colleges in Jacksonville, what they cost, and resources for students in Florida.

More than 970,000 people call Jacksonville home as of 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In the Gateway to Florida, three colleges stand out as the most popular picks based on factors like academic rigor, student life, and overall reputation.

We’ve created a complete list of all four-year nonprofit colleges in Jacksonville. You can use the table below to compare data on student population and the average net cost.

The following school data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). All data is from 2021-2022. Note that colleges with a total student enrollment of fewer than 500 were not considered for this list.

How much does college cost in Jacksonville? What you pay for college depends on the type of college you attend in Jacksonville. One of the cheapest colleges in Florida is UNF, the only public institution in the Bold New City of the South.

You can expect to pay an average annual net price of $11,338 when you attend UNF — slightly higher than the national average undergraduate tuition of $9,375. Private four-year colleges in Jacksonville charge an average annual net rate of $22,380 as detailed below.

Scholarships can help alleviate some of the financial hardship of paying for college. The Florida scholarships listed below offer no-strings-attached money for college if you meet the criteria and are selected. Note that you will need to apply and submit materials to get awarded a scholarship.

The UNF Foundation operates a scholarship fund that allows students to apply for multiple scholarships. You can log into AcademicWorks to complete an application and Data Sharing Consent form, which will match you with eligible awards. Deadlines vary, but the UNF Foundation disperses scholarships in the spring and summer.

JU offers many scholarships and grants to qualified undergraduates. For institutional scholarships and grants, you need to attend JU as a full-time student and have a competitive GPA. The award covers tuition and on-campus room and board — not books. You can also get honors scholarships, service awards, and athletic scholarships.

High-achieving Florida high school graduates can qualify for scholarships through the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which operates the Florida Academic Scholarship and Florida Medallion Scholarship funds.

For eligibility, you must submit a Florida Financial Aid Application by August 31. The program accepts Florida residents and graduates of Florida public high schools who meet standardized test scores and GPA scores. Score requirements vary by scholarship.

Several private and public colleges, including UNF, call Jacksonville, Florida, home. Additionally, Edward Waters College, which was founded in 1866 by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is the oldest college in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville, Florida, has four four-year colleges with at least 500 students enrolled, according to NCES. You can earn a certificate, bachelor’s degree, or graduate degree from any of these four Jacksonville colleges and universities.

In terms of enrollment, the University of North Florida is the biggest college in Jacksonville. The public nonprofit university boasts a total student enrollment of 16,406. Undergraduates make up most of the student population, with more than 14,000 enrolled.

A private university, Jacksonville University has the second highest enrollment, with a total student body of 3,837, according to NCES.