When choosing the perfect college in Florida, housing is crucial in defining the student experience. Florida’s universities offer residential options from traditional halls to apartment-style living, whether you want luxury, affordability, or proximity to beaches and vibrant cities.
This guide follows University Magazine’s Florida ranking list and uses its published methodology for institution-level context. It covers 30 schools. Browse our best dorm rankings and the wider university rankings for more guides.
What Makes a College Dorm the Best?
The best college dorms in Florida often combine suite or apartment options with traditional halls, clear live-on rules, and community-building programs. Strong residence life helps new students meet people and settle in.
The Best College Dorms in Florida 2027
1. Florida College
Florida College in Temple Terrace lists College Hall, which houses upper-division women in private rooms. Each bathroom is shared by four students and has two showers and two sinks, and the first floor has a fully equipped kitchen and coffee bar.
The housing page reviewed describes only this hall and does not state a live-on requirement, so confirm housing for men and first-year students with the college. The campus is near Tampa, giving residents access to city jobs and activities.
2. Florida Gulf Coast University
Florida Gulf Coast University lists South Village, North Lake Village, and West Lake Village as housing communities and reports 4,748 beds on its housing page. About 75 percent of freshmen live on campus, and the school reports 120 staff on call 24 hours a day.
Residents use a housing web portal to apply and submit maintenance requests. The page doesn’t describe room types, so check each village’s floor plans before you apply.
3. Florida State University
Florida State University offers more than 6,700 beds in suites and apartments for full-time, degree-seeking students. About 85 percent of first-year students choose to live on campus.
The bulletin page does not name individual halls or describe dining, so use the housing office site for hall details and rates. Suite and apartment layouts offer students more privacy than traditional corridor halls.
4. Florida International University
Florida International University sorts housing by class year. First-year options include Everglades Hall (372 residents in 3-bedroom private floor plans), Lakeview Village (800 residents in 2-bedroom shared and 4-bedroom private suites), Panther Hall (392 residents), and Parkview Hall for Honors College students (596 residents).
Second-year students can choose Tamiami Hall, University Towers, or University Apartments, with 2- and 4-bedroom apartments and some studios. Bayview Student Living serves the Biscayne Bay campus in North Miami.
5. University of South Florida
The University of South Florida expects about 6,500 students to live on its Tampa campus in fall 2026, out of roughly 7,500 across Tampa and St. Petersburg. The university has 47 residence halls across both campuses and 19 Residential Community Programs.
Three new programs started this year: AI and Cyber, First-Gen, and Exercise Science. These cohort-style communities place students with peers who share interests and pair them with tips for finding internships.
6. St. Thomas University Florida
St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens lists six housing options: Murphy, Villanova, Central Hall, Cascia, University Inn, and the Catholic Leadership Household. Room types include doubles, shared double suites, shared triple suites, singles, and triples. The School describes suite-style housing next to academic buildings, with resident assistants and live-in staff in each area. It does not state a live-on requirement, so confirm with the university.
7. University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida lists Apollo, Lake Claire, Libra, Neptune, Nike, and Hercules under its academic-year agreement, plus Towers at Knights Plaza and NorthView. Towers offers private bedrooms with full-size beds, and NorthView has private bedrooms and bathrooms in every apartment. NorthView adds a resort-style pool, game room, and fitness center. The academic-year agreement is the most popular choice for first-year students, and Rosen College Apartments serve students at the hospitality campus in Orlando.
8. Ave Maria University
Ave Maria University has six undergraduate residence halls: St. Maria Goretti, St. Sebastian, St. Joseph, St. Mother Teresa, St. John Paul II, and St. Francis Xavier. Rooms include triple and suite-style layouts, and graduate students can lease Middlebrooke Townhomes. Undergraduates must live on campus unless they are 23 or older, married, part-time, graduate students, or living with family in Collier, Lee, or Hendry County. See our guide to the best college dorms in Delaware to compare with other states.
9. Lynn University
Lynn University in Boca Raton describes the Hoernle Residence Hall as a two-story building with four wings and two large courtyards. Rooms are double occupancy with vanities and sinks, and community bathrooms have daily housekeeping. On-site laundry is available, and some windows look over the baseball and softball fields. The School did not list the other Lynn halls, so check the housing office for apartment-style options.
10. Southeastern University
Southeastern University in Lakeland houses students in Bethany and Bauer (two-person rooms), Buena Vida East and West, Aventura, Esperanza, Destino, Valencia, and South Pointe. Suites hold four or eight residents, and Buena Vida overlooks Lake Holloway. Utilities, unlimited laundry, and housekeeping are included. Campus-based students must live on campus except in approved circumstances.
11. University of South Florida St. Petersburg
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg opened Osprey Suites in 2020, a five-floor building with 375 beds. Most units are shared two-bedroom, one-bath suites, and the rest are three- or four-person single bedrooms sharing two bathrooms. Each floor has a student lounge and study room, and the first floor has a lounge, a community kitchen, and a dining facility. The USF news page lists about 1,000 students living at the St. Petersburg campus in fall 2026.
12. Eckerd College
Eckerd College groups its traditional housing into seven complexes: Alpha, Beta, Delta, Epsilon, Gamma, Kappa, and Zeta. Doubles are about 200 square feet and singles about 171, and each complex has a lounge, courtyard, and laundry. Beta offers waterfront access, Gamma has Boca Ciega Bay views and a fire pit, and Delta added a dog park. All housing is smoke-free, which makes Eckerd a standout option for college living near St. Petersburg.
13. University of West Florida
The University of West Florida offers Martin Hall (shared junior suites, where most first-year students live), Heritage Hall, Presidents Hall (STEM community), and Pace Hall (Honors community). Upper-level students can choose Argo Hall or Village East and West apartments. Suites have private bathrooms, and the page doesn’t mention a live-on rule. Compare it with our guide to the best college dorms in Massachusetts to see how other states approach housing.
14. Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University profiles FAMU Towers North and South, Polkinghorne Village East and West, Sampson Hall, Young Hall, and Palmetto Street South and Phase III apartments. The towers offer hotel-style living and 13 living and learning communities. Sampson (men) and Young (women) have single and double rooms near the library, and the Palmetto Street apartments add kitchens and courtyards. Read our tips on amenities to look for in student accommodation, living on campus vs off campus, and staying safe in residence.
15. Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Polytechnic University broke ground in March 2023 on its third residence hall, a five-story, 430-bed building with one-, two-, and four-bedroom suites. It was planned for fall 2024. The hall includes lounges, study spaces, a multipurpose room, and a courtyard, and the university described it as its first owned dorm. The release says existing housing was fully occupied, so apply early and confirm current availability.
16. Barry University
Barry University in Miami Shores has Dominican Hall, a three-story, 72,000-square-foot building with 247 beds, completed in July 2012. The source reviewed doesn’t list room types, amenities, or other Barry halls, so check with the housing office for current options and requirements before you apply. Dominican Hall was built in the 2010s, so ask about renovations and which class years it serves.
17. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University requires students under 21 to live in university housing and guarantees them a spot. Daytona Beach options include Adams and Wood, Apollo, Chanute, Doolittle, O’Connor, Stimpson, and Residence Halls 1, 2, and 3. Residence Hall 3 offers four-bedroom apartments with a private bedroom and bathroom for each student, and Residence Halls 1 and 2 are suite-style. Students in demanding aviation programs can also use these tips for staying motivated.
18. University of Tampa
The University of Tampa houses first-year students in Austin, most of Grand Center, McKay, Morsani, Smiley, and Vaughn, and upper-class students in Jenkins, Palm Apartments, Straz, and Urso. Grand Center is a 10-story building with over 700 students. Rooms are furnished and air-conditioned with free Wi-Fi, and the halls have lounges and laundry. Grand Center has a Starbucks, and McKay is home to the Honors community.
19. Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University lists Atlantic Park Towers, Glades Park Towers, Heritage Park Towers, Indian River Towers, Parliament Hall, Talon Hall, Innovation Village Apartments, University Village Apartments, and Jupiter campus halls including Wilkes Honors College housing. Options span traditional, suite, and apartment housing. High-speed internet is included, beds are extra-long twin beds, and apartments have full kitchens.
20. University of North Florida
The University of North Florida opened Osprey Ridge in fall 2025, a four-story, 520-bed hall with a Hicks Honors College living-learning community. Students from all programs can live there. It has study lounges, kitchenettes, a convenience store, and sand volleyball and pickleball courts. Demand is high, with about 500 students on a standby list, so apply before the deadline.
21. University of Florida
The University of Florida lists more than 30 residence halls and communities, including Beaty Towers, Broward, Buckman, Corry Village, Diamond Village, Graham, Honors Village, Hume, Infinity, Murphree, Rawlings, Tanglewood Village, and The Continuum. The index page does not describe room types, so use each hall page for details. The mix of historic halls and newer buildings suits students who want to know what to look for when choosing a community.
22. Edward Waters University
Edward Waters University in Jacksonville announced a $25 million residence hall with nearly 200 beds, expected in 2028. It would be the first new student housing since 1982. The project is funded through the federal HBCU Capital Financing Program, and the financing closed on Sept. 10. The article does not name the current halls, so confirm existing housing with the university.
23. Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University offers Baxter, Johnson, Oceanview, Rinker, Weyenberg, and Watson Halls, Coastal Towers, and auxiliary two-bedroom apartments. Coastal Towers units have private kitchens and balconies over the Intracoastal Waterway. Watson Hall has 154 apartment-style units with full kitchens, and Rinker has 67 two-person suites. The waterfront setting makes it a top choice for beach-loving students, though costs vary.
24. Nova Southeastern University
Nova Southeastern University lists Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall (about 430 students, mainly first-years), The Commons (505 beds), Founders, Farquhar, and Vettel Halls, the Cultural Living Center, Rolling Hills Apartments, and Mako Hall. Mako Hall opened in 2019 with about 608 apartment-style beds, and Rolling Hills has a resort-style pool. The guide does not state a live-on requirement.
25. Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Institute of Technology planned a 555-bed housing complex in Melbourne, reported in January 2025. The six-story building has mostly four-bedroom, two-bathroom suites with full kitchens. Plans include study and lounge spaces, a multipurpose room, and two courtyards. The article gives no opening date, so verify the status and current halls with the housing office.
26. Rollins College
Rollins College has 19 residential communities, including Lakeside Neighborhood on Lake Virginia for upperclass students and Ward Hall for first-years. Housing includes co-ed halls, furnished apartments, and special residential organizations. Some buildings have lake views, and the page mentions a pool. Applicants weighing admissions can read about the SAT adversity score, and should confirm live-on rules with the college.
27. Flagler College St. Augustine
Flagler College lists Ponce de Leon Hall (dating to 1888), Cedar Hall, Lewis House, Sebastian House, FEC Towers, Abare Hall, and Kenan Hall. All first- and second-year students live on campus. Upperclass halls offer queen and king beds, private suites, and kitchenettes. Campus perks include free laundry, two pools, free kayaks, and a free weekday shuttle.
28. Ringling College of Art and Design
Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota planned an 185-student residence hall in 2017, according to the Observer, as part of its campus housing growth. That report is dated andcan’tt be opened in full, so this entry doesn’t list room types or amenities. Check the college housing page for current halls, costs, and requirements.
29. Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University has a three-year residency requirement and names Williams Hall on its housing page. The page links to a separate housing options page for room types. Because the rule covers three years, plan for a longer on-campus stay. Students can also learn what StudyX is to support their studies.
30. Stetson University
Stetson University lists Carson and Hollis Halls with shared rooms about 13 by 15 feet, self-loftable XL twin beds, desks, dressers, and included utilities. Other halls include Brown, Sage, Chaudoin, Conrad, Lynn, and Nemec. Carson has a basement kitchen, study lounge, and laundry. Stetson supports academic success and personal development through shared spaces and vibrant campus events. The right dorm can shape your college journey, and Florida’s schools offer housing that meets academic and personal needs. Each institution adds its own touch to housing, helping students focus on their studies while enjoying a rich campus life. As you explore your options, remember: the best dorm isn’t just where you live; it is where you thrive. Housing rates and requirements change each year, so check each school’s housing office before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best college dorms in Florida for 2027?
Florida College, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida State University, Florida International University, and the University of South Florida lead this University Magazine list for 2027.
Which Florida colleges require students to live on campus?
Ave Maria University and Southeastern University require most students to live on campus; Jacksonville University has a three-year residency rule; Flagler College requires first- and second-year students; and Embry-Riddle requires students under 21.
Which Florida schools offer apartment-style housing?
Florida International University, the University of Central Florida, Nova Southeastern University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Florida Atlantic University list apartment-style options on their housing pages.
Which Florida schools have new or planned residence halls?
The University of North Florida opened Osprey Ridge in fall 2025, Edward Waters University announced a new hall for 2028, and Florida Polytechnic University and Florida Tech announced new housing projects.
How many students live on campus at big Florida universities?
The University of South Florida expects about 6,500 students on its Tampa campus in fall 2026, and Florida State University lists more than 6,700 beds.
Top 30 Best College Dorms in Florida 2027: Ranked List
- Florida College
- Florida Gulf Coast University
- Florida State University
- Florida International University
- University of South Florida
- St. Thomas University Florida
- University of Central Florida
- Ave Maria University
- Lynn University
- Southeastern University
- University of South Florida St. Petersburg
- Eckerd College
- University of West Florida
- Florida A&M University
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Barry University
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach
- University of Tampa
- Florida Atlantic University
- University of North Florida
- University of Florida
- Edward Waters University
- Palm Beach Atlantic University
- Nova Southeastern University
- Florida Institute of Technology
- Rollins College
- Flagler College St. Augustine
- Ringling College of Art and Design
- Jacksonville University
- Stetson University
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