University of Florida: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Gainesville, Florida · Public · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Tests required
- Early Decision
- Early Action
- 90,523
- Applicants
- 18,403
- Admitted20%
- 7,619
- Enrolled
- 41%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective20% admittedRanked #34 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #36 (tie), Business Programs #24 (tie), Computer Science #44 (tie), Nursing #12 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Florida (see the source), read on 2026-10-21. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is University of Florida a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places University of Florida against it in about a minute. No account needed.
University of Florida is a public university in Gainesville, Florida that admits about 20% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $6,541 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Biology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 92% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 11.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of Florida is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Florida admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 20%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1410 and an ACT composite around 31. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $6,541 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of Florida right now
The University of Florida is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville and the senior member of the State University System of Florida, with origins dating to 1853 and continuous Gainesville operations since 1906. UF enrolls roughly 60,000 students and is one of the largest and most selective public universities in the South, frequently ranked among the top public universities in U.S. News. Parents often note Florida's affordability story: in-state tuition remains among the lowest of any flagship public university, and Florida Bright Futures scholarships continue to subsidize tuition for qualifying state residents. Distinctive academic strengths include the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the Warrington College of Business with its undergraduate Heavener honors track, and a nationally recognized AI initiative built around the HiPerGator supercomputer, which UF has used to embed artificial intelligence coursework across more than 200 majors. UF moved to the Common Application a few cycles ago, and parents should be aware that first-year applicants apply to a single fall start, with summer-only admission still used for a portion of admitted freshmen. Recent news that matters for families includes UF's continued participation in the SEC for athletics alongside its 2024 hiring of new university leadership and ongoing growth of its Jacksonville graduate campus. UF requires either SAT or ACT scores for first-year applicants, having ended a temporary test-optional policy after the pandemic, so parents should plan testing timelines accordingly.
What GPA does my child need for University of Florida?
58% of enrolled students at University of Florida had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare University of Florida with the other schools on your list
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What does University of Florida weight in admissions?
University of Florida reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
4- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
Important
5- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
3- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
Not Considered
6- Class rank
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores University of Florida typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | 1330 |
| 50th percentile | 1410 |
| 75th percentile | 1490 |
| % submitting SAT | 78% |
| 25th percentile | 29 |
| 50th percentile | 32 |
| 75th percentile | 33 |
| % submitting ACT | 39% |
- • Tests required: Standardized test scores are part of the standard application package.
- • SAT, ACT or CLT required for all freshman applicants (Florida public university system).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on University of Florida's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 85% |
| Top 25% of class | 98% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| % submitting class rank | 87% |
How much does University of Florida actually cost?
Published tuition is $6,381 for in-state students and $28,659 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,120 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $6,541 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $4,477 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $27,816 |
| Room and board | $14,190 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $6,541 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 98% |
| Average need-based grant | $17,713 |
| Average merit award, no financial need633 first-year students received one | $4,033 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 16% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $18,745 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $30 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Florida
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | Last Friday in January for early action, second Friday in March for regular decision |
| Reply deadline | Must reply by May 1st or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | October 15 |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Florida?
These predict outcomes at University of Florida better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of Florida
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Florida, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, University of Florida confers roughly 3,336 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $57,099 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 599 | $57,099 |
| Biology, General | 595 | $66,170 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 452 | $73,834 |
| Political Science and Government | 397 | $70,551 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 369 | $72,397 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 338 | $128,097 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 309 | $94,291 |
| Economics | 277 | $79,677 |
Is University of Florida safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Florida disclosed 397 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 11.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 34 violent offenses and 55 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of Florida?
About 23% of undergraduates at University of Florida live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 16% of men join a fraternity and 27% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Florida parents ask about
- University of Miami19% acceptance
- Florida State University24% acceptance
- University of Central Florida40% acceptance
- University of South Florida-Main Campus43% acceptance
- Florida International University55% acceptance
- University of North Florida53% acceptance
- Florida Atlantic University66% acceptance
- Florida Gulf Coast University63% acceptance
Next steps for University of Florida
Common questions parents ask about University of Florida
What GPA do I need for University of Florida?
58% of enrolled students at University of Florida had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Florida typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–750, with an EBRW midpoint near 685. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.
How much does University of Florida actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Florida after grants and scholarships is $6,541 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $6,381 and $28,659 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of Florida realistic for my child?
University of Florida admits 20% of applicants, so 660–750 SAT Math is target range and below 660 is a reach. Then check the $6,541 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Florida?
University of Florida accepts about 20% of applicants out of roughly 90,523 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is University of Florida test-optional?
No. University of Florida requires SAT or ACT scores for Fall 2027 applicants.
What is the graduation rate at University of Florida?
About 92% of students at University of Florida graduate within six years. 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of Florida look for in applicants?
University of Florida rates course rigor, GPA, extracurricular activities and talent and ability as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of Florida a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of Florida is a public institution located in Gainesville, Florida.
What are the most popular majors at University of Florida?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of Florida by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Biology, General and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 3,336 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of Florida safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of Florida reported 397 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 11.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of Florida?
At University of Florida, 23% of undergraduates live on campus, 16% of men are in fraternities, 27% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Florida, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers