Diverse Degrees and Offerings at the University of Florida
The University of Florida appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Online Schools for Graduate Degrees.
The University of Florida offers 200 graduate programs, 100 undergraduate majors, and 30 certificate programs as part of the school’s 16 colleges, with both online and on-campus options available. Students can also choose combined degrees, earning up to a dozen credit hours towards a graduate degree while completing undergraduate coursework. Programs are available in agricultural and life sciences, digital and fine arts, business, dentistry, design and construction planning, education, engineering, health and human performance, journalism and communications, law, liberal arts and sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and veterinary medicine.
One of the most popular options at UF is the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), which boasts 22 undergraduate majors, 22 graduate majors, and 50 specialization areas, including agricultural education and communication, environmental science, geomatics, and marine science. There are also six pre-professional/pre-health tracks: animal sciences, biology, entomology and hematology, microbiology and cell science, nutritional sciences, and wildlife ecology and conservation. Students preferring a distance learning program can find undergraduate, graduate, certificate and non-degree options, such as a B.S. in Environmental Management in Agriculture and Natural Resources, a certificate in Urban Pest Management, and an M.S. in Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences. CALS also offers several study abroad programs, including Traditional Medicine and Agriculture in China, Quito Community Nutrition in Ecuador, and Wildlife Ecology in Swaziland.
In addition to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF is also known for its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), with over 32,000 students enrolled each year, with around 2,000 pursuing graduate degrees. The College offers 37 majors and 48 minors taught by over 600 faculty members, some of which are members in the National Academy of Science, the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, and the Nobel Prize Committees. The College has several distinguished alumni, including a Rhodes Scholar and several Barry Goldwater Scholars. With both online and on-campus options, students can pursue degrees and certificates in areas including astronomy, Chinese, graphic design, microbiology and cell sciences, sustainability studies, and zoology.
For individuals who already possess a degree or who are looking for continuing education options, certificates can be pursued in a variety of subject areas, including arts in medicine, advanced engineering ceramics, construction management, emergency management, geological sciences, Holocaust studies, international communication, landscape pest management, nuclear radiation and reactor analysis, Russian and East-European area studies, and teaching English as a second language.
With a strong focus on research and service, UF offers unique opportunities to students through the institution’s Innovation Academy. Students enrolled in this option can choose from one of 30 majors in fields related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Students in all programs also have the ability to conduct research as freshmen and sophomores. With the university attaining more than $830 million in research awards annually, student researchers are led by some of the top faculty in the country, including two that have earned Pulitzer Prizes and 43 that have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. UF also offers an honors program with smaller class sizes and additional course offerings.
About the University of Florida
The University of Florida has a rich and long history, beginning over 160 years ago as Gainesville Academy. In 1866, the school was offered to the State of Florida, and in 1909, enrollment jumped from 200 to over 2,000 students following a reorganization of the university’s colleges. In 1934, the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, a public school district, was founded on the institution’s campus to serve as a world leader on innovation and research in education. In 1956, UF opened the Colleges of Medicine and Nursing, followed two years later by the UF Teaching Hospital.
Today, UF has become established as one of the nation’s leading universities, with the U.S. News & World Report ranking it #8 among public universities. Among the Association of American Universities (AAU) Institutions in 2014, UF was ranked #2 for the number of bachelor’s degrees and #1 for the number of master’s degrees awarded to students who identify as Hispanic, demonstrating the University of Florida’s commitment to meeting the needs of a diverse student body.
One unique fact about the university’s history is that in 1965, a team of UF scientists developed a beverage that the Florida Gator’s football team could use to stay hydrated—this beverage was named Gator-Aid, which later became Gatorade.
UF boasts an average high school G.P.A. of 4.35 and an average S.A.T. Score of 1919 for the 2016 freshman class. In addition, UF is the only school in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) that has placed at least 100 student-athletes on the honor roll every year for the past 19 years.
Finally, with a focus on the future of both their students and of the planet, UF offers sustainability-focused courses in 34 academic departments. The university has received land, sea, and space grants to help students and faculty research and solve some of today’s most significant economic, medical, and ecological issues. In addition, UF’s 2,000-acre campus contains 900 buildings, many of which are LEED-certified, including the first LEED Platinum-certified building in Florida.
University of Florida Accreditation Details
The University of Florida is accredited for both online and on-campus programs through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges. Additional program-specific accreditations include:
- ABET (applied and natural sciences, computing, engineering, and technology programs)
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education
- Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)
- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (Doctor of Physical Therapy program)
- National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) (Master of Architecture program)
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
- American Council for Construction Education (ACCE)
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
University of Florida Application Requirements
Students seeking admission to UF as a traditional freshman should submit an application by November 1st to receive priority consideration. After this date, applications are reviewed as space allows. Following application submission, prospective students should submit a Student Self-Reported Academic Record (SSAR) by December 1st and ACT/SAT test scores by December 15th. Applicants are asked to write a 550-word essay on one of several topics listed on UF’s website.
Freshman applicants are required to have a minimum SAT reading score of 24, writing and language score of 25, and math score of 24. The minimum ACT scores are 19 on both the reading and math sections. Students have the option to take either test and have the scores submitted from the testing agency.
Graduate students can submit an application online, along with a $37 processing fee, prior to the deadline for the specific degree program the student is seeking entrance to. In most cases, applicants must also submit GRE, GMAT, or FE scores, depending on the student’s intended program of study. If a student has already earned a graduate or professional degree from another accredited institution, testing requirements are generally waived.
The University of Florida offers a quick and convenient application process for admittance to online programs that can be completed online in approximately 30 minutes. The application fee is $37, which includes a $7 processing fee, and must be paid online when the application is submitted. For fall admittance, applications are due by early May. Those seeking entrance for the spring semester should submit their applications by early September, and those wishing to begin in the summer session should submit an application by early February. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Because UF is a public institution, Florida residents receive a lower tuition rate than do students from other states. The in-state tuition for online courses is $129 per credit hour, including fees, and the on-campus tuition is $212, including fees. An online student from Florida can expect to spend $3,876 in tuition and $1,000 in fees. In-state undergraduate residential students can expect to spend $6,300 a year on tuition, $1,000 on books and supplies, and $5,600 on housing. Out-of-state undergraduate students pay approximately $22,278 in additional tuition and fees.
Florida residents enrolled in a graduate program pay approximately $12,700 a year for tuition, $1,000 a year for books, and $7,000 a year to live on campus, with out-of-state students adding an additional $17,300 in tuition and fees. Participation in Innovation Academy and study abroad options have additional tuition and fees.
The University of Florida website states that 56% of students that start their college career at UF graduate with no student loan debt. The school offers loans, scholarships, grants, and work-study programs. There are also several programs offered to Florida residents to assist with tuition costs, including the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Florida Prepaid College Plan, Bright Futures, and Florida Ethics in Business Scholarships.
Learn more about the sustainable, research-focused, and innovative offerings at the University of Florida’s website.
