Online Colleges in Florida

The progression of online education in Florida can be traced back to 1996, when the Florida Community College Distance Learning Consortium and the Institute for Postsecondary Distance Learning were founded. Eventually, the Institute's resources were allocated to create the Florida Virtual Campus (FVC) in 1999, which provided online education services to students at 28 public colleges and 12 universities. This state's online education infrastructure also supports K-12 students through several services provided by the Florida Department of Education. The centralized learning system at FVC gives students access to electronic journal and eBook library databases, online courses and virtual student services. According to a report compiled by the Florida College System, enrollment in postsecondary online courses increased by 128.8% within five years, demonstrating a high level of demand and fulfillment in Florida's online academic environment.

While online college course enrollment figures are booming in Florida, it seems that the state has cut revenues for institutions of higher education. The College Board reveals state appropriates changed by -17.5% during the period between 2006 and 2011. Unfortunately, this means that students likely have to bear the weight of college through increased tuition rates, which have spiked by 69.7% within the same five years.

Want to learn more about the top online schools in Florida? Take a look through our comprehensive database of distance learning programs offered by colleges and universities in this state. You can also see how Florida's higher education compares to the rest of the country by checking out the state facts section.