The 28 member schools of ICUF mirror the diversity of Florida's population. Member schools range from large, full-service universities, like the University of Miami, to small liberal arts schools like Flagler College in St. Augustine. Enrollment at member schools ranges from 500 to 19,000. The programs the schools offer also vary widely, from space technology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, to art training at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota. Three of the schools are historically black colleges, and their student bodies are still made up of a majority of minority students.
ICUF schools award 26 percent of all bachelors degrees awarded in the state, and nearly a third of all degrees awarded overall. Due to these high percentages, ICUF schools play a major role in complementing educational opportunities offered by state schools. ICUF members claim to be more flexible than state schools, since they have fewer layers of bureaucracy. Because of this adaptability, ICUF schools claim to be able to respond more quickly to market needs for graduates in certain fields.
Despite the reputation of private schools as being elitist, ICUF members seek to make their schools affordable and accessible to all Floridians. Through generous financial aid programs, ICUF schools seek to enroll minority students and physically challenged students who would not be able to attend otherwise. In fact, several institutions have outreach programs to actively recruit students with disabilities and disadvantages. ICUF schools seek accessibility for students through providing distance learning and online programs.
ICUF works closely with the Florida Independent College Fund (FICF), a not-for-profit organization aimed at helping ICUF schools expand their access to students of all backgrounds. The fund seeks to assist hardworking students in need of education and training that will result in a better-prepared workforce. The fund seeks to establish collaborative scholarship programs funded through individuals, corporations, and foundations. The FICF also seeks to build relationships with the private sector to emphasize the importance of Florida's independent colleges on the state's workforce.