Cheapest Online Degrees in Florida
Florida residents get one of the strongest combinations of low online tuition plus state aid in the US. The Florida State University System (SUS) prices in-state online tuition under $230/credit at most schools. University of Florida Online charges $129/credit to all online students regardless of state of residence, making it competitive even for out-of-state applicants. Florida Bright Futures and the Florida Student Assistance Grant stack with the Federal Pell Grant to bring out-of-pocket cost down further.
Florida State University System Online Programs
Public SUS schools with significant online program offerings. SACSCOC regional accreditation across the system. Per-credit tuition from each school's official online tuition page; out-of-state premium noted where applicable.
University of Florida (UF) Online
Source$129/credit
$129/credit (in-state rate offered to all online students)
Top-ranked public flagship. AACSB business, CCNE nursing, ABET engineering. Approximately 25 fully online bachelor majors. Total degree cost ~$15,480 before aid.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional; AACSB / CCNE / ABET programmatic by program
Florida International University (FIU) Online
Source$228/credit (in-state)
~$346/credit (out-of-state)
Miami-based public research university. Hispanic-serving institution. 80+ online programs. AACSB business, ABET engineering, ACEN nursing.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional; AACSB / ABET / ACEN by program
University of South Florida (USF) Online
Source$213/credit (in-state)
~$575/credit (out-of-state)
Tampa-based public research university. 60+ fully online undergrad programs. AACSB business, ABET engineering, CCNE nursing.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional; AACSB / ABET / CCNE by program
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Online
Source$202/credit (in-state)
~$721/credit (out-of-state)
Boca Raton-based public university. 30+ online undergrad programs. AACSB business, CCNE nursing.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional
University of Central Florida (UCF) Online
Source$179/credit (in-state)
~$716/credit (out-of-state)
Orlando-based; one of the largest public universities by enrolment in the US. 80+ fully online programs.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional
University of West Florida (UWF) Online
Source$216/credit (in-state)
~$648/credit (out-of-state)
Pensacola-based public university. 40+ online programs. Strong military-student support given proximity to Naval Air Station Pensacola.
Accreditation: SACSCOC regional
Why UF Online Wins the Florida Comparison
UF Online's $129/credit rate is unusual: it is the in-state Florida resident rate, offered to every online student regardless of their state of residence. A 120-credit bachelor's degree at UF Online costs approximately $15,480 before aid. Comparable AACSB-accredited public flagship business degrees at out-of-state rates often cost $40,000+ for the same 120 credits.
UF holds AACSB accreditation for business (the gold standard), CCNE for nursing, ABET for engineering and computer science, and SACSCOC for the institution overall. The online degrees are awarded by the University of Florida itself, not a separate online division, so the diploma reads identically to the on-campus degree.
Trade-off: UF Online is selective. Admission requires competitive high school records or transfer credit, and not every UF major is available online. For Florida residents who qualify, it is the strongest value in the state and one of the strongest in the country.
Florida-Specific Financial Aid
Florida residents have four primary state aid programs that stack with Federal Student Aid. Bright Futures is the highest-leverage if you qualify; FSAG is the highest-leverage if you have demonstrated financial need.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Merit-based, awarded to Florida high school graduates with qualifying GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Two tiers: Florida Academic Scholars (covers 100% of tuition and applicable fees) and Florida Medallion Scholars (covers 75%). Can be used at any eligible Florida postsecondary institution, including online programs at SUS schools. Adult returners may also qualify under Florida Bright Futures Adult Returner provisions.
SourceFlorida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
Need-based grant for Florida residents enrolled at eligible Florida public, independent, or private postsecondary institutions. Award amounts vary; renewable based on continued financial need and academic progress.
SourceFederal Pell Grant
Up to $7,395/year (2024-25). Stacks with Bright Futures at most Florida schools. Eligible at any Title IV school in Florida including UF Online, FIU, USF, FAU, UCF, UWF.
SourceFlorida Prepaid College Plan
529-style state-administered prepaid plan that locks in tuition rates at the time of purchase. Applicable to Florida College System schools and State University System online programs. Useful for parents planning ahead; not a current-year aid source.
SourceCompare with private and out-of-state options
Florida public schools are excellent for Florida residents. For non-Florida residents who do not qualify for UF Online, see the master comparison table on the homepage for accredited online schools nationwide.