Florida Southern vs Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Florida Southern College and Nova Southeastern University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Florida, offer distinct educational experiences. Florida Southern, a private liberal arts college, boasts a tight-knit community with a focus on undergraduate education, while Nova Southeastern, a private research university, excels in graduate programs and boasts a diverse student body. With acceptance rates of 68% and 52%, respectively, these universities cater to students with varying academic backgrounds. While Florida Southern's popular majors include business, education, and nursing, Nova Southeastern offers a wider range of programs, including health professions, business, and engineering. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, such as student body demographics, graduation rates, and additional factors, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
  | 
       | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Florida Southern College | 
          
        
          
             
          
          Nova Southeastern University | 
      
|---|---|---|
    Overview | 
||
| Location | Lakeland, Florida | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 
| Campus setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large | 
| College type | 4 year | 4 year | 
| Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) | 
| Calendar system | Semester | Trimester | 
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate | 
| Students retention rate | 79.0% | 78.0% | 
    
       
      Common app member
    
   | 
      Yes | Yes | 
| Religious affiliation | Methodism | |
| 
       | 
  ||
    Admission | 
||
| Acceptance rate | 60.9% | 92.5% | 
| Application fees | 
                         
            Undergraduate:
            $50
           
          
            Graduate:
            $50
           
                   | 
  |
| SAT range | 1160 - 1335 | 1040 - 1310 | 
| ACT range | 25 - 30 | 20 - 30 | 
| Students submitting SAT score | 27.0% | 42.0% | 
| Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | 17.0% | 
| Total number of applicants | 10,759 | 11,749 | 
| Total number of admissions given out | 6,550 | 10,868 | 
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 792 | 1,672 | 
| Yield rate | 12.1% | 15.4% | 
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A | 
| High school GPA | Required | Required | 
| Recommendation letters | Not required | Required | 
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required | 
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Tuition and Fees | 
||
| Sticker price | $55,100 | $57,175 | 
| Average net price | $25,783 | $26,530 | 
| Tuition | $38,180 | $33,510 | 
| Room & board | 
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $7,224
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $4,800
           
                   | 
      
                         
            Room/dormitory:
            $10,944
           
          
            Meal plan:
            $3,190
           
                   | 
  
| Available payment plans | 
                        
  | 
      
                        
  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Financial Aid | 
||
| 
    Students receiving financial aid
     (Grants & scholarships)  | 
      
              
          100.0%
        
         Average amount $28,545  | 
      
              
          100.0%
        
         Average amount $23,747  | 
  
| Students receiving federal student loan | 
              
          61.0%
        
         Average amount $5,373  | 
      
              
          45.0%
        
         Average amount $5,272  | 
  
| Students taking out private loans | 
              
          9.0%
        
         Average amount $16,516  | 
      
              
          7.0%
        
         Average amount $14,731  | 
  
| 
       | 
  ||
    Students and Campus | 
||
| Undergraduate students | 
              
          2,811
        
        
           Men 35.8% Women 64.2%  | 
      
              
          6,637
        
        
           Men 27.8% Women 72.2%  | 
  
| Graduate students | 
              
          575
        
        
           Men 33.4% Women 66.6%  | 
      
              
          14,261
        
        
           Men 27.8% Women 72.2%  | 
  
| Racial/ethnic diversity | 
              
           Low 
    
       | 
      
              
           Moderate 
    
    
    
       | 
  
| Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A | 
| International students | 3.5% | 3.8% | 
| Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | Suburb: Large | 
| Dormitory capacity | 2,329 | 2,049 | 
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No | 
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | N/A | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Academics | 
||
| Popular study areas | 
              
  | 
      
              
  | 
  
| Students to faculty ratio | 14:1 | 17:1 | 
| Institutional accreditation | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | 
| 
       | 
  ||
    Outcome | 
||
| Graduation rate | 67.7% | 60.5% | 
| Dropout rate | 32.3% | 5.4% | 
| Transferred out | N/A | 33.3% | 
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | 
               
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Criminology (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
      
               
              
                
                  Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Information Science/Studies (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Dentistry (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
                
              
               
                      
 
              
                
                  Optometry (Doctoral Degrees)
                
              
               
                  
  | 
  
    
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      Common app member