Florida has been seeing considerable economic improvements since the economy crashed and the housing bubble burst. In fact, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis recently reported Florida's economic output increased 2.2 percent in the last year, higher than the national average.

Just as the top occupations in Florida are diverse, the most popular degrees also span a wide range of interests Here's a breakdown of some of the top programs in Florida based on National Center for Education Services (NCES) numbers on total degrees granted in the 2012-2013 academic year:

No matter what students want to study, chances are there are several schools for them to choose from. That's because there are over 400 colleges and universities around the state, including about 350 private colleges and universities.

Florida also boasts a robust public college system:

Floridians have their pick of a number of schools in the area, especially for those who live in the larger cities. Among the largest cities in Florida are Jacksonville, which has a population of 821,784, and Miami, which has the population of 399,457. Other large cities in the state include Tampa, Saint Petersburg, Orlando and Hialeah.

Although people in large cities may have easy access to a local college campus, via online schools in Florida, people who outside of these metropolitan areas can still take advantage of the state's best schools by earning their degrees online.

There are several popular careers among Florida's professionals. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics, there are 162,530 registered nurses around Florida, and these professionals earn a median annual salary of $60,420. Here are five highlight careers in the state based on May 2013 BLS data for median annual salaries and total in-state employment:

According to data compiled by The College Board, the annual cost of tuition for Florida schools is as follows:

The price of tuition may vary from school to school, and may be higher in major cities with a higher cost of living. However, Florida schools are still affordable compared to those in many other areas of the country.

Students also have access to tuition assistance to help with the cost of attending a Florida college or university. For example, the Florida Student Assistance Grant Program and the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program are awarded to students based on financial needs. There are also scholarships students can receive based on their background and the field they plan to study.

Students may also be eligible to receive federal financial aid, which they can obtain by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Accreditation of colleges and universities is a form of quality control, which seeks to ensure students are getting the best education that Florida institutions have to offer. Accrediting organizations hold schools up to high standards, so students can be confident that when they earn their degrees, they are prepared to enter the workforce. Some schools in the state are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Sources:

"Trends in Higher Education," The College Board, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/tuition-and-fees-sector-and-state-over-time

"The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System," National Center for Education Statistics, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

"Occupational Employment Statistics," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://data.bls.gov/oes/

"FAFSA Federal Student Aid," Federal Student Aid, Accessed November 28, 2014, https://fafsa.ed.gov/

"FAQs About Accreditation," New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Accessed November 28, 2014, https://cihe.neasc.org/information-public/faqs-about-accreditation#what_is_accreditation

"Important Questions About Accreditation," Council for Higher Education Accreditation, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.chea.org/degreemills/

"Florida's economic growth in 2013 better than most of the country," Tampa Bay Times, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/floridas-economic-growth-in-2013-better-than-most-of-the-country/2183852

"College Navigator FL," National Center for Education Statistics, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=FL

"State University System of Florida," State University System of Florida Board of Governors, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.flbog.edu/aboutsus/universities/

"About Us," The Florida College System, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.floridacollegesystem.com/about.aspx

"Florida - Largest Cities," GeoNames, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.geonames.org/US/FL/largest-cities-in-florida.html

"(FL) Cities - ranked by Population," TogetherWeTeach, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.togetherweteach.com/TWTIC/uscityinfo/09fl/flpopr/09flpr.htm

"Florida Scholarships," Scholarships.com, Accessed November 28, 2014, https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-state/florida-scholarships/

"Florida Scholarships & Grants, Florida Department of Education," Office of Student Financial Assistance, Accessed November 28, 2014, https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/pdf/nm4c_brochure.pdf

"Accreditation and Memberships," College of Central Florida, Accessed November 28, 2014, http://www.cf.edu/smartcatalog/accreditation.htm

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Florida (FL) Online Schools and olleges - Online-Education.net