BackUF Admissions Guide
Everything a prospective undergraduate Gator needs to know.
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Gators Won't Back Down
There's no place like The Gator Nation.
Through storm and sunshine, Gators have planted their feet and stood together since 1853. The incomparable energy of the student section on gameday cannot be replicated or described.
It can only be felt, literally.
Whether at a watch party, or live and in person,
the venue is sure to shake with the ferocity of Gator pride.
Once you feel it, you'll understand why...
It's great to be a Florida Gator.
Gators Get Rowdy
Students and alumni gathered in the Stephen O'Connell Center to watch from Gainesville as our men's basketball team won the 2025 National Championship in San Antonio. During half time, the crowd brought out their flashlights and sang along to Gator Nation favorite, 'I Won't Back Down' by Tom Petty.
It's Great to Be a Florida Gator
We Say it and We Mean It
#2 Public New Ivy (Forbes, 2026)
#1 Best College in Florida (US News & World Report, 2026)
Top Notch Students, Top Notch University
For the eighth consecutive year, the University of Florida has been nationally recognized as a Top 10 Public University. (U.S. News & World Report, 2025)
34,257 Undergraduate Students (UF IPR, Fall 2025)
16:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio (UF IPR, Spring 2026)
98% One-year Retention Rate (UF IPR, 2025-2026)
9,841 Bachelor's Degrees Awarded (UF IPR, 2025)
Ready, Set, Research
Why Wait to Explore Research Oportunities?
We believe students should be introduced to research oportunities
as early as their freshman year. For over two decades,
students have conducted faculty-mentored research on campus across
every academic discipline with little restriction.
Explore research within or outside of your major or even explore
AI oportunities. All UF students can learn about AI in curriculum
and the role it plays in their field.
Your research journey can be whatever you want it to be.
For more information, visit the Center for Undergraduate Research's website.
Cur.aa.ufl.edu
Kiara V.
Major: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Graduating in 2028
"Having the oportunity to be mentored through research as an undergraduate student has allowed me to delve into my interests and meet knowledgeable professionals in the field."
Gators Stay Ahead of the Game.
As of 2026, approximately $1.33 billion was allocated to research at UF. (UF News, 2025)
Photo Caption: Dr. Rebecca Baldwin, an associate professor for the Entomology and Nematology Department, leads students through the Natural Area Teaching Lab on campus to collect water-based insect specimens for closer examination.
Gators Go Greater
UF Honors Program
The UF Honors Program
suports you at every stage, offering smaller classes and exclusive resources,
such as specialized Honors advisors, undergraduate research oportunities,
signature experiences and tailored study abroad programs.
honors.ufl.edu
One Community, So Many Oportunities
The Honors Village Residential Complex, UF's newest residential community, is designed exclusively for Honors students. Residents of the Honors Village have special access to:
- Modern personal living spaces
- Exclusive study spaces and common areas
- Classrooms in the facility
- In-house advisors and faculty
Honors applicants are automatically considered for additional merit-based scholarships.
Honors Research Stipend: up to $6,000 over 4 years
Honors Scholarship: up to $4,000 over 4 years
See the World in Orange and Blue
Your education can take you far beyond Gainesville.
Immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Tokyo,
spend a semester studying Plant Sciences in Berlin, or
take a summer journalism course in Vienna—
wherever and whatever it may be, your next big adventure can start here.
Internationalcenter.ufl.edu
268 Study Abroad Programs
53 Countries
(UF International Center, 2025-26)
Drew W.
Major: Biology
Minor: Japanese Language and Literature
Recent 2026 Graduate
"My experience working and studying in Japan was a perspective-shifting experience that opened up global oportunities for my future career path. It helped me to secure my upcoming position as a Pharmacology Research Student at Showa Medical University in Tokyo, Japan."
Spend A Semester in England
As UF's newest school in 30 years, the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education offers rigorous academic settings and the oportunity to study abroad in England for their capstone class.
Your Future Starts Here
Thinking about joining The Gator Nation?
We are looking for future Gators who will enrich our community of leaders and learners. UF employs a comprehensive review process, meaning we will consider everything in your application file. Your academics, extracurricular activities and background will all play a role in our decision.
Apply to be a Gator in just five steps!
- Choose your application deadline (Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision)
- Complete and submit the Common App
- Create your Gator Portal to track your application status
- Submit your application materials (STARS and test scores)
- Check your status on decision release day
Early Decision
UF is adding Early Decision as an admissions option, where applicants will be the first to receive their admissions decision. Early Decision is binding.
The Innovation Academy
The Innovation Academy (IA) has a curriculum focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, with an innovation minor. To apply to IA, complete the additional essay in the Common App.
2026 Freshman Profile
Middle 50%
GPA 4.5-4.7
ACT 32-35
SAT 1420-1520
Application Deadlines & Options
2026-27
Early Decision: October 15
Early Action: November 1
Regular Decision: January 15
Ready to explore The Gator Nation? https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/freshman/
Get Career Ready
All the connections you need.
The Career Connections Center (C3) suports student outcomes with extensive resources that help Gators prepare for the real world.
- Resume preparation
- Personalized career coaching
- On-campus career fairs featuring 900+ employers
#5 Best Alumni Network (Princeton Review, 2025)
68% of UF Undergraduates Had At Least One Internship Before Graduating (UF Graduation Survey, 2024-25)
Helping students kick-start their careers.
C3 helps UF students explore interests and career paths to land their dream job
after graduation. The Career Hub,
UF's 24/7 virtual career center,
offers access to career assessments, labor market data and resources
to guide students on their journey.
Career.ufl.edu
Top Companies Employing Gator Grads
- Amazon
- Citi
- J.P. Morgan
- L3HARRIS
- Pepsico
- P&G
Not All Gators Have Four Legs!
UF houses one of the fastest supercomputers in higher education, HiPerGator. This cutting-edge supercomputing cluster is accessible to all colleges through various courses. That's not all; C3 partners with companies to identify how they use AI and offers career pathway coaches for guidance on AI-related oportunities.
Apply for Financial Aid
We are dedicated to providing an affordable, world-class education for all students.
FAFSA application
Complete the 2027—28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
as soon as it opens on October 1, 2026, to receive the best possible aid offer.
Start your FAFSA: fafsa.gov
Types of Aid
All admitted students are considered for financial aid; apply to UF as early as possible. Several types of aid are available to incoming freshmen.
All students are automatically considered for UF merit scholarships through their admissions application, while need-based aid is awarded on individual circumstances. UF offers Federal Work Study (FWS) positions as a form of financial aid. FWS positions provide students with part-time employment to help meet college costs and, if possible, provide work experience in a related field. There are also a number of loan programs and grants available to UF students.
In-State Student Scholarships
Scholarship amounts are shown over the course of 4 years.
- Florida Merit Scholarship: Up to $8,000 over 4 years
- Presidential Scholarship: Up to $20,000 over 4 years
- Presidential Gold Scholarship: Up to $32,000 over 4 years
- Presidential Platinum Scholarship: Up to $40,000 over 4 years
Out-of-State Student Scholarships
Scholarship amounts are shown over the course of 4 years.
- Alumni Tuition Scholarship: Up to $40,000 over 4 years
- Sunshine Tuition Scholarship: Up to $64,000 over 4 years
- Gator Nation Scholarship: Up to $80,000 over 4 years
82% UF Undergraduates Graduate from UF With No Student Loan Debt (UF SFA, 2025)
8,000+ Incoming Freshmen Offered UF Merit Scholarships (UF SFA, 2026)
$49 Million Offered in Merit-based Scholarships to Incoming Freshmen (UF SFA, 2026)
$171 Million Offered in Grants and Scholarships to Incoming Freshmen (UF SFA, 2026)
2026-27 Undergraduate Cost of Attendance*
| In-State | Out-of-State | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition/Fees | $6,440 | $34,620 |
| Books, Course Materials, Supplies, Equipment | $1,220 | $1,220 |
| Transportation | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Living Expenses | $14,190 | $14,190 |
| Miscellaneous Personal Expenses | $2,224 | $2,224 |
| Federal Student Loan Fees | $56 | $56 |
| Estimated Total | $25,830 | $54,010 |
*These figures are projected estimates for 2026-27 incoming freshman based on 30 credit hours total for the fall and spring
semesters. Your costs may vary. To see the detailed undergraduate cost of attendance at the University of Florida and how
those costs are calculated, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship's website at
sfa.ufl.edu/cost.
Information accurate as of April 2026.
sfa.ufl.edu
Gators Love the Sun
With 220 days of sunshine a year, you can soak up the sun year-round.
There's so much to love about our unique college town.
Though it wasn't UF's original home, we're proud to call Gainesville ours today.
Gainesville is for...
The Outdoorsy
Filled with scenic nature trails and natural springs, Gainesville offers endless opportunities to connect and fall in love with your surroundings.
The Artsy
Watch a free concert downtown, visit an art exhibit or check out a local-favorite night market (and stick around; you could catch a fashion show).
The Foodies
Between the unique culinary must-tries and atmospheric holes-in-the-wall, UF students quickly find their favorite spots to lock-in and study or relax between classes.
...and for The Gators (of course).
Find Your Home
On Campus: Walking distance to class? Check out the 25+ residence halls available
for students with a variety of living styles.
housing.ufl.edu
Off Campus: For more information on off campus living, please visit offcampus.ufl.edu
PRO TIP: Right after completing your application for UF admission, apply for on-campus housing. Room selection priority date is determined by when you submit your application.
Dining
With more than 45 on-campus restaurants, cafés and dining halls, you'll never run out of options. Enjoy bites from the restaurants you know or try something new from the ones you don't.
1,000+ student organizations, 1,000+ ways to discover yourself.
Build Your Circle
Did you know? Anybody can create a student organization. All you need is a name, 10 members and an approved registration!
There are so many opportunities to connect with fellow Gators; GatorNights hosts exciting activities every semester, like drive-in movies and GatorIdol. Feeling competitive? Get involved in our 50+ student intramural teams or sports clubs. Alongside free admission to the Southwest Recreation Center, students swim for free during open pool hours at the O'Connell Center and the outdoor Florida Pool. There's always something happening. If anything, you'll struggle to fit everything in.
Student Resources
Campus is packed with resources designed to help you thrive in and out of the classroom. We want to make sure our students have the tools they need to grow, connect and succeed.
ufadvising.ufl.edu/student-resources
Free Transportation
Gainesville's Regional Transit System (RTS) and the Campus Connector offer free bus services to UF students; just show them your Gator ID!
Late Night Libraries
There are seven late-night libraries across campus that offer flexible scheduling for every student.
Need to Burn Off Some Energy?
Students get in free to our Southwest and Student Recreation Centers!
ADA Accommodations
There are 35 universally designed ADA rooms available on the first floor of Cypress Hall, offering a wide variety of services/ accommodations for on-campus students with physical mobility impairments.
Food Pantry
The Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry is a free resource that provides supplementary food staples to members of the UF community experiencing food insecurity.
Visit the Swamp
Take an in-person campus tour, led by a UF student tour guide, or visit virtually by downloading our self-guided tour through the GatorWay app.
In-person and virtual tours: admissions.ufl.edu/visit
Colleges & Undergraduate Majors
catalog.ufl.edu120+ Majors
100+ Minors
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
cals.ufl.eduAgricultural Education and Communication*†
Agricultural Operations Management*
Animal Sciences*
Biology†
Botany*
Dietetics*
Entomology and Nematology*†
Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources* (Interdisciplinary Studies)
Environmental Science*
Family, Youth and Community Sciences*
Food and Resource Economics*
Food Science*
Forest Resources and Conservation*
Geomatics*
Marine Sciences*
Microbiology and Cell Science*
Natural Resource Conservation*
Nutritional Sciences*
Plant Sciences†
Soil, Water, and Ecosystems Sciences*
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation*
College of the Arts
arts.ufl.eduArt*
Art History*
Dance*
Digital Arts and Sciences*
Graphic Design*
Music*
Music Business and Entrepreneurship*
Music Education*
Theatre*
Theatre Performance*
Theatre Production*
Warrington College of Business
Fisher School of Accounting
warrington.ufl.edu/about/fisherAccounting†
Heavener School of Business
warrington.ufl.edu/about/heavenerBusiness Administration, General Studies*†
Finance†
General Business
Information Systems†
Management†
Marketing†
College of Design, Construction, and Planning
dcp.ufl.eduArchitecture
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture Sustainability and the Built Environment*†
Sustainability and the Built Environment*†
Urban Sciences and Planning*
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
dcp.ufl.edu/rinkerConstruction Management
Emergency Services
College of Education
education.ufl.eduEarly Childhood Education
Education Sciences*†
Elementary Education*
Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
eng.ufl.eduAerospace Engineering
Biological Engineering
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering*
Computer Science†
Digital Arts and Sciences†
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Exploring Engineering Studies)
Environmental Engineering
Industrial and Systems Engineering
Industrialized Construction Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
College of Health and Human Performance
hhp.ufl.eduApplied Physiology and Kinesiology
Health Education and Behavior*
Sport Management*
Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management*
College of Journalism and Communications
jou.ufl.eduAdvertising*†
Journalism*†
Media Production, Management and Technology*†
Public Relations*†
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
clas.ufl.eduAfrican-American Studies*†
Anthropology*†
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Biology†
Botany
Chemistry†
Classical Studies
Computer Science*
Criminology
Data Science
Economics
English*†
Exploring Humanities and Letters
Exploring Science and Engineering
Exploring Social and Behavioral Sciences
Foreign Languages and Literature (African, Arabic, Chinese, Dual Language, French and Francophone, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian)
Geography*†
Geology*
German
Hebrew
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures and Linguistics*
History*†
International Studies
Jewish Studies
Linguistics*
Marine Sciences
Mathematics*†
Meteorology*
Microbiology and Cell Science
Philosophy*
Physics
Political Science†
Psychology†
Religion*
Sociology*†
Statistics*
Sustainability Studies*
Women's Studies*
Zoology
College of Nursing
nursing.ufl.eduNursing
College of Pharmacy
pharmacy.ufl.eduPharmacy (Pre-professional)
College of Public Health and Health Professions
phhp.ufl.eduCommunication Sciences and Disorders
Health Science
Public Health
Hamilton School of Classical and Civic Education
hamilton.center.ufl.eduAmerican Government, History, Literature and Law
Great Books and Ideas
Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law
War, Statecraft and Strategy
* PaCE Majors
† Innovation Academy Majors
PaCE and Innovation Academy majors as of May 2025. Majors are subject to change. Refer to catalog.ufl.edu for more information.
Visit the Swamp
admissions.ufl.edu/visitTake an in-person campus tour, led by a UF student tour guide, or visit virtually by downloading our self-guided tour through the GatorWay app.
In-Person and Virtual Tours
See our tour options
admissions.ufl.edu/visit-and-events/