Acceptance Rate
73%
Avg. SAT
1245
75th percentile
“Florida's only public honors college where you ditch letter grades for narrative evaluations and design your own path through contract-based learning.”
Sarasota, FL
Location
Small City
Campus Setting
You step into New College of Florida, a tiny public honors college founded in 1960 by Sarasota visionaries inspired by Oxford tutorials and Swarthmore's intensity, tucked into a lush bayside campus in one of Florida's most artsy enclaves. It flipped to public status in 1975 and earned its honors college badge from the state in 2001, serving as the selective gateway for ambitious Florida undergrads while drawing out-of-staters willing to pay more. Thrive here if you're fiercely independent, allergic to rote lectures, and eager to chase passions without hand-holding—think quirky intellectuals who kayak to class more often than they hit frat parties. The vibe skews bohemian and cerebral, with a legacy of fostering deep thinkers amid palm trees, but tradeoffs hit hard: at just 663 undergrads, you'll miss the breadth of big universities, and Sarasota's steamy humidity plus hurricane season can test your tropical tolerance.
Photo Gallery
+45
+37
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
Test-optional schools still weigh strong scores. Submitting can help.
Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In classrooms capped at 20, you'll huddle in seminar-style discussions where professors probe your ideas like personal mentors, fueled by an 8:1 student-faculty ratio that dwarfs most publics (rarer than at 90% of Florida schools). Forget majors—you negotiate 'contracts' each term outlining your goals, culminating in a senior thesis or project that's more like a master's preview, with narrative evaluations replacing A's and B's. Strengths shine in environmental science (leveraging nearby bays for fieldwork), literature, and interdisciplinary pursuits like cognitive science, where undergrads snag real research gigs early, co-authoring papers or presenting at conferences. The intellectual culture rewards self-starters, but if you crave structure or vocational tracks like engineering, you'll feel the pinch of limited departments and a 62.6% six-year grad rate reflecting the rigor.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
852 undergrad • 29 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
57%
Black / African American
5%
Hispanic / Latino
22%
Asian
4%
Other / Multi-racial
11%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Sarasota, FL
A typical week blends morning seminars, afternoon independent study in bayside pods, and evenings biking to clothing-optional New College Beach or paddling the mangroves—picture a tight-knit crew of 600-odd debating philosophy over bonfires rather than tailgating football. Residential life clusters you in four themed 'pods' fostering instant bonds, with over 100 clubs despite the size (from ultimate frisbee to sustainable farming), and traditions like the raucous Thesis Tower BBQ celebrating senior projects keep things lively. Sarasota's vibe amps it up: world-class beaches like Siesta Key minutes away, Ringling Museum exhibits, and a thriving opera scene for cultured outings. Challenges? The small pond means social circles form fast (Greek life absent), dating can loop tight, and brutal summers push you indoors—but winters lure snowbirds, and the chill, non-conformist energy suits introverted adventurers over party animals.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Apply for Financial Aid
Complete the FAFSA to unlock grants, scholarships, and federal loans.
Costs shown are before financial aid. Most students receive some form of aid. Complete the FAFSA to see what you qualify for.
Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
76%
4 Years Graduation Rate
58%
6 Years Graduation Rate
66%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$48,082
76% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at New College of Florida and return in the fall. 58% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 66% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
58%
4-6 years
8%
Non-grad
34%
Let’s find your perfect tutor
Answer a few quick questions. We’ll recommend the right plan and match you with a top 5% tutor.
Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$5,227
Acceptance
73%
Undergrads
852
4-Year Grad Rate
58%
Endowment
$48M
Sarasota, FL 34243-2109
Explore More