When it comes to looking for a university in Miami, Florida, oftentimes, the name can be deceiving. Sometimes, the name of the university doesn’t reflect its location. For example, you may have been looking for universities to attend in Miami, but most likely stumbled upon Miami University, a college located in Oxford, Ohio!

Florida National University is Actually Located in Florida!

If you’re looking to attend college in the South Florida area, Florida National University (FNU), a regionally accredited university with two campus locations in Miami and Hialeah, Florida, always welcomes talented students who are looking for a quality education. However, FNU encourages you to do your homework and research all of the other colleges and universities that might appeal to you to confirm that we are the best university for you.

Choosing the right college is a big decision. Several different factors are involved when it comes to selecting the university. Some of them will even conflict with one another. It will be up to you to determine which school is the right choice based on your top priorities. Here’s a list of them:

1. Location

Many aspiring college students care about the location of their university. Some people want to be near family and friends, and others might want to be a bit adventurous and attend college in another city, or state even. The choice could also weigh heavily on the type of university it is (we’ll visit the type of university in point #2). Other decisions may be based on what kind of career you’re interested in studying.

Some universities may offer degrees that meet the demand of their region. For example, FNU has a strong academic curriculum for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in the healthcare industry, but as a regionally accredited university, our academic curriculum offers a well-rounded catalog of associate, bachelor, and master degree programs in concentrations like Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Accounting, Natural Sciences, Psychology, Education, Legal Studies, and more.

There are even students who base their decision on the climate. Many people prefer to live in a tropical climate and avoid the cold and snow altogether. For some, it may not matter as much. Yet, for some international students who may come from a warmer climate, things like this often make a big difference in their decision-making process.

Another important aspect that you want to take into consideration is where you plan to live after college. The university you attend may have a significant impact on where you’ll find a job. Many universities have great relationships with surrounding businesses in the community. It’s not uncommon for their graduates to land a job nearby.

2. Campus culture

Know the type of university you’re applying to. While all universities in the United States are an equal opportunity educational institution, some may present themselves differently. For instance, some colleges may have a religious affiliation. Others may be single sex or co-ed, or be historically Black or Hispanic. Some students may find such characteristics culturally appealing. Others might be looking for an entirely different cultural experience.

There’s also the matter of having the preference of a private or public education. All of these things will reflect a university’s campus culture. Since this is an institution that you plan to dedicate at least two or more years to, it’s extremely important to find out what kind of college sparks your interest. Each college and university guide should disclose this type of information.

3. Take the size of the university into account

Do you prefer going to a large college, or do you prefer a more intimate classroom setting? Such things need to be taken into account when choosing your college. While larger colleges may get more recognition, their highly populated campuses will attribute to large classrooms along with a high volume of traffic throughout the campus. That means spending more time to commute to and from the college. If you prefer to attend an accredited university that isn’t as busy in numbers, then you’ll have smaller classrooms and a less congested student and faculty population.

4. Where does the college rank in your area of interest?

Sometimes, it’s necessary to dig a little deeper when searching for the perfect college. Find out where the university ranks and what the success rate is in your subject area.

5. Can the university assist you with financial aid?

This is extremely important. In order for any educational institution to collect federal aid for their students, they must meet certain standards and criteria. If the college or university you’re considering to attend doesn’t offer federal financial aid assistance, then you should take this as a red flag to turn the other way and cross that option off from your list.

6. Weigh the pros and cons of each university you’re considering.

Make a checklist of all the must-haves you require for college and then list all of the colleges and universities that you’re interested in applying to. Next, make another list of the pros and cons of each university. As aforementioned, some of the pros and cons might conflict with one another. That’s why you need to refer back to what your top priorities are and choose the university that best fits into your overall academic goal.

Decide what’s best for you!

At the end of the day, the decision is ultimately yours. So choose the university that you think will help you open doors to your professional future. Also, make sure that the university that you’re scouting is actually located in the state of Florida! Start by contacting an academic advisor at Florida National University to schedule an appointment about enrollment requirements today.