UF: the complete school report for parents
UF rates 4 of the 18 admission factors Very Important, among them course rigor, GPA and extracurricular activities. A second tier of test scores, the essay and personal qualities carries real weight too. It does not consider legacy, demonstrated interest and the interview, so campus visits and emails will not move the decision. With a 20.3% admit rate and 58% of enrolled students at a 4.0 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and a strong test score is close to expected. Transfer applicants are admitted at 44.8% against 20.3% for first-years, so the transfer route is materially wider.
UF is officially University of Florida, also known as U Of F or Ufl. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is UF a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UF against the figures above. No account needed.
What’s new at UF for 2026-27
UF is offering binding Early Decision for the first time. First-time students applying for fall 2027 can choose Early Decision, due 15 October with decisions by 11 December. Admitted ED students must enroll at UF and withdraw other applications, and the commitment is signed by the student, a parent or guardian, and a high school counselor. Early Action and Regular Decision stay non-binding with unchanged deadlines, and ED applicants remain eligible for all financial aid and scholarships.
Source: UF adds Early Decision admissions option starting Fall '27, UF News (28 May 2026); Freshman Early Decision, UF Admissions
What does UF actually weigh in admissions?
UF rates 4 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA, extracurricular activities, talent. It does not consider 6 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UF's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How UF rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Important |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Very Important |
| recommendations | Not Considered |
| personal qualities | Important |
| talent | Very Important |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Not Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Considered |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Important |
| work experience | Important |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does UF consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does UF consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UF consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UF consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UF consider extracurricular activities?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UF consider recommendation letters?
No. UF does not consider it.
Does UF consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UF consider a special talent or ability?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UF consider class rank?
No. UF does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does UF consider demonstrated interest?
No. UF does not consider it. Campus visits, emails and info sessions do not move the decision.
Does UF consider an interview?
No. UF does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does UF consider legacy status?
No. UF does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does UF consider being first-generation?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor. Say so on the application; it is read as context.
Does UF consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UF consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UF consider volunteer work?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UF consider work experience?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UF consider religious affiliation?
No. UF does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
58% of enrolled students had a 4.0 GPA or above. The average was 3.9 on a 4 scale, reported for 95% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 58% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 38% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 4% |
| 3.25–3.49 | Not reported |
| 3.00–3.24 | Not reported |
| 2.50–2.99 | Not reported |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0% |
What is the UF waitlist really like?
UF offered a place on its waiting list to 3,196 applicants and 2,737 accepted one. 1 were ultimately admitted. That is 0.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
UF admitted 44.8% of 5,996 transfer applicants, against 20.3% of first-year applicants. For a student who does not get in at eighteen, the transfer route is a genuinely wider door and worth planning for deliberately. The minimum college GPA considered is 2.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
UF reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | January 15 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | Last Friday in January for early action, second Friday in March for regular decision |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | Yes |
| Early Decision deadline | October 15 |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $30 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | No |
What does my child need to take in high school?
UF requires 16 academic units and recommends 20. A college-preparatory program is neither. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 3 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 2 years | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 2 years | 4 years |
What will UF actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $6,541 a year at UF after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $4,477. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 98% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 633 merit awards averaging $4,033 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $1,982 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $2,768 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $7,151 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $12,905 |
| Over $110,000 | $16,723 |
16% of UF graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $18,745 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $159 a month in repayment. UF’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from UF pay off?
Graduates earn a median $71,588 ten years after entering, and $56,398 at six years. 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 69% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $7,928 | 0.3 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $11,072 | 0.4 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $28,604 | 1.0 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $51,620 | 1.9 |
| Over $110,000 | $66,892 | 2.4 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$128,097 to $21,714, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UF:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $128,097 | 338 |
| Computer Engineering | $114,942 | 118 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $101,867 | 248 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $94,291 | 309 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $81,169 | 217 |
| Marketing | $80,633 | 218 |
| Economics | $79,677 | 277 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $77,478 | 235 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $73,834 | 452 |
| Sociology | $51,030 | 153 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $28,324 | 82 |
| Dance | $21,714 | 25 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
97% of first-years return for a second year. 92% within six (2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 89.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 93.0% of everyone else, a gap of 4.0 points.
How big are the classes?
50% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 3% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 16:1, and 90% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
What is life at UF like?
37,283 undergraduates, 21% of first-years from out of state. 69% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 23% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 16% of men join a fraternity and 27% of women a sorority. 31% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $60,120.
On-campus housing is not guaranteed at UF and is not reserved for first-year students. Signing a Student Housing Agreement secures a space in a residence hall but not a specific building or room type; agreements are due 1 May, and a waitlist opens if capacity fills first. Students admitted to the Honors Program who sign by 1 April are guaranteed a space in Honors Village.
Source: Frequently Asked Questions, UF Housing; First-Year Student Application, UF Housing
The Florida Gators compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
In the 2024-25 academic year nearly 3,500 UF students took part in study abroad programs around the world.
UF's Center for Undergraduate Research runs programs from the entry-level Emerging Scholars Program to the University Scholars Program, which pairs students one-on-one with faculty on a project. Outcomes come from the UF Graduation Survey, an exit survey of post-graduation plans that over 95% of graduates complete each year.
Source: Research Programs, UF Center for Undergraduate Research; Student Outcomes, UF Career Connections Center
How is UF ranked, and how strong is the alumni network?
UF is ranked #34 (tie) for national universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges 2027. Its full set of published positions, including the ones that are less flattering:
| Ranking | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, national universities | #34 (tie) |
| U.S. News Best Colleges 2027, public universities | #8 |
| TIME America's Best Colleges 2026-2027, public universities | #4 |
| Forbes America's Top Colleges 2026, public universities | #9 |
Shown in full, including the less flattering ones.
Source: A decade among the best: UF marks 10th consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report top 10 public universities (UF News, 22 Sept 2026); Boston University Achieves Its Highest-Ever Ranking from U.S. News & World Report (BU Today, 22 Sept 2026; lists UF among schools tied at 34th)
The UF Alumni Association counts more than 500,000 living alumni (498,360 in its April 2025 statistics), living in more than 150 countries. It supports 76 active Gator Clubs and 10 chartered affiliate groups.
Source: About the UF Alumni Association
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. UF recommends 20 academic units.
- 58% of enrolled students are at a 4.0 GPA or above, averaging 3.9. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- Skip demonstrated-interest tactics here. Visits and emails are not tracked, so save that effort for schools where they count.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 1 of 2,737 who waited were admitted, about 0%.
- If the first-year answer is no, the transfer route is genuinely wider here and worth planning for from the first semester of college.
- Its highest-earning major returns $128,097 five years out against $21,714 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about UF
What GPA do you need for UF?
58% of enrolled students at UF had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Does the UF waitlist move?
2,737 students accepted a place on the UF waiting list and 1 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do UF graduates earn?
UF graduates earn a median $71,588 ten years after entering, and 85% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with UF
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: UF’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.