At a Glance
Florida admits 20.3% of applicants.
What You'll Actually Pay
See what families at different income levels actually pay after aid.
What families actually pay, by income level
After grants and scholarships. Before loans. Public school prices shown at in-state rates.
Source: College Scorecard / IPEDS, 2024-25
Where the Sticker Price Goes
Based on average need-based grant. Actual cost varies by family income — see chart above.
Shown at in-state rates.
Debt at Graduation
Not reported by this school
receive need-based grant aid
$18,745
average debt at graduation
Florida graduates carry an average of $18,745 in debt.
Merit Aid
3,203
students received merit aid
$3,282
average merit award
Getting In
Florida admits 20.3% of applicants.
SAT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 78% of the class submitted
ACT — Middle 50% of those who submitted · 39% of the class submitted
85% were in the top 10% of their high school class.
What They Value
Academic
Nonacademic
University of Florida considers your essay Important — a strong essay can differentiate an otherwise average application. Demonstrated interest is Not Considered here — campus visits and emails to admissions won't affect your odds.
Student Life
50.5% of Florida classes have fewer than 20 students.
Share of undergraduate class sections at each size, from CDS Section I-3. More red = more large lectures.
At Florida, 50.5% of your classes will have fewer than 20 students.
Class size data reflects all undergraduate sections including labs, seminars, and lectures. Large research universities often have smaller upper-division and graduate-level sections that improve the overall distribution. First and second-year students typically experience larger classes than these averages suggest.
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26, Section I-3 (class sizes)
17:1
student:faculty ratio
Campus Life
Live on campus
23%
Men in fraternities
17%
Women in sororities
26%
Who Attends
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduates, as reported in each school's Common Data Set. "Unknown / Other" includes students who did not report or selected "other."
Florida's student body is 47.8% white.
Popular Majors
Will They Graduate?
Florida graduates 77.4% of students in 4 years.
Graduating late means paying for extra semesters. The 6-year rate tells you who eventually finishes — the 4-year rate tells you what it actually costs.
Florida graduates 77.4% of students in 4 years.
What finishing late actually costs
Based on each school's published cost of attendance. Public school costs shown at in-state rates.
Florida
77.4%
4-yr grad rate
Extra year cost: $22,523*
* In-state cost of attendance. Out-of-state students pay significantly more.
Graduation rate data from Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2018 cohort (most recent available). 4-year rate = students completing in 4 years or less. 6-year rate = students completing within 6 years.
92%
Overall 6-yr rate
89%
Pell recipient rate
There's a 3 point gap between overall and Pell Grant graduation rates. Worth asking the school about support resources.
Freshman Retention
97%
97% of first-year students return for sophomore year.
City & Culture
Beyond the data — what it's actually like to spend four years in Gainesville.
Gainesville is a warm, green college town where the university drives most of what happens — a big student population, cheap food, and live music venues that have been launching bands since the 1970s. Natural springs, state parks, and paddling trails sit within an hour in almost every direction. It suits students who want an outdoorsy, sports-forward campus culture at a low cost of living; Jacksonville and Orlando are both within about two hours when you want a city or an airport.
Notable Alumni
Chris Malachowsky
Co-founded NVIDIA, now one of the most valuable technology companies in the world, after studying electrical engineering at Florida.
Carol Browner
The longest-serving Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and later White House climate advisor.
Faye Dunaway
Academy Award-winning actor known for Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network.
Erin Andrews
Sideline reporter and host who has covered NFL games for Fox Sports and multiple Super Bowls.
Emmitt Smith
The NFL's all-time leading rusher, who returned to finish his Florida degree after winning three Super Bowls.
Tim Tebow
Won the Heisman Trophy and two national championships at Florida before playing in the NFL and professional baseball.
Alumni selected for name recognition and range of fields. Not from the Common Data Set.
The City
College town
Gainesville, FL
Best For
Traditions
Gator Growl
A student-produced homecoming pep rally that has drawn crowds of tens of thousands to Florida Field, with comedians and musical acts alongside the traditional program. Students have run it since 1924.
We Are the Boys
Between the third and fourth quarters of every home football game, the entire stadium links arms, sways, and sings 'We Are the Boys from Old Florida.' It happens win or lose, which is part of why it sticks with people.
The Gator Chomp
Fans extend both arms and clap them together like jaws, timed to the Jaws theme played by the marching band. It started in the 1980s and is now recognized well beyond Gainesville.
Weekend Escapes
Within driving distance from Gainesville
Florida's freshwater springs
1 hourIchetucknee, Ginnie, and Devil's Den stay about 72°F year-round for tubing, snorkeling, and diving.
St. Augustine
1.5 hoursThe oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the U.S., with a Spanish fort and Atlantic beaches attached.
Orlando
2 hoursTheme parks, concerts, and the closest major airport hub for cheap flights home.
Getting There & Game Days
Nearest airport
Gainesville Regional (GNV)
15 minutes from campus
For international flights: Orlando International (MCO) — about 2 hours by car.
Pro sports nearby
- Jacksonville Jaguars NFLAbout 1.5 hours away
- Orlando Magic NBAAbout 2 hours away
- Orlando City SC MLSAbout 2 hours away
Career Proximity
UF Innovate runs startup incubators right on campus, and Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa are all within a couple of hours for summer internships.
Top Industries Nearby
Major Employers
- UF Health Shands Hospital
- Exactech
- Info Tech
- Nationwide
- Publix Super Markets
Jacksonville — about 1.5 hours; Orlando about 2 hours
Who Thrives Here
Florida pairs $6,400 in-state tuition and 98% of demonstrated need met with unusually low graduate debt of about $18,700 — a case that is strongest for families who qualify for in-state rates. Campus life runs on football Saturdays, where the whole stadium links arms and sings between the third and fourth quarters win or lose, and roughly 17% of men and 26% of women join Greek life.