Program Opportunities at the University of Florida
The University of Florida appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Affordable Accelerated MBA Programs Online.
The University of Florida offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and several additional graduate and doctoral programs that are available for enrollment on the university’s main campus in Gainesville. Many programs are also available through the University of Florida Online program. About half of the classes offered at the university have fewer than 20 students.
Some of the divisions within the university include the Schools and Departments of Entomology and Nematology, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Animal Sciences, and Agricultural & Biological Engineering. The university also has a College of Veterinary Medicine and a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
Some of the most popular programs at the university include those in engineering, business, biology, the social sciences, and communication. The university enjoys a high freshman retention rate of 97 percent. For students who want to enroll in online programs, students will enroll in the university’s Distance Learning division, which offers more than 200 undergraduate and graduate programs.
Degrees are available at certificate, specialist, doctoral, master’s, and bachelor’s degree levels. Students can also enroll as non-degree seeking students or in individual courses. Some of the degree programs available online include the Master of Science in Biostatistics, the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, the Master of Educational Leadership, and the Master of Gerontology.
Students may want to enroll in a certificate program rather than a full degree program, and the university offers many different subjects for study. Some of the certificates include Graduate Certificates in Addiction and Recovery, Construction Project Management, Arts in Medicine, and Engineering Leadership.
Most of the university’s certificates are offered at the graduate level, but there are a handful of undergraduate certificates in areas like environmental horticulture management, emergency medical services management, geology, and landscape pest management. Some certificate programs require that students have a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree.
The university offers eight programs to students interested in earning an online doctorate. Those programs include a Ph.D. in Classical Civilization, an Ed.D. in Educational Technology, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a PharmD. Program. Some online degrees may require that students participate in on-site internships or attend some classes at distance campus sites.
About the University of Florida
The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida, and has a large student body population of more than 56,000 students. The Gainesville campus is the flagship institution of the university system, and it is considered a sea-grant, space-grant, and land-grant institution. The campus has existed in Gainesville since 1906, but the university was in operation as early as 1853.
The campus covers 2,000 acres and has one of the largest student populations of any college in the country. The campus is divided into 16 academic colleges, which also include 150 institutes and research centers. The popular sports teams at the university are known as the Gators, and they are joined by two mascots named Alberta and Albert. The university’s official colors are blue and orange.
University of Florida Accreditation Details
Regional accreditation for the University of Florida comes from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Students who attend an accredited university are eligible to participate in the federal student loan program, as well as transfer their credits to and from other accredited institutions. The university has several programs that are accredited further by other organizations like the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Accreditations come from the Council on Education for Public Health, the American Council for Construction Education, the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Obtaining certification or becoming credentialed after graduation may require that the student has graduated from an accredited program. The university is also a member institution of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and the National Association of Schools of Dance.
University of Florida Application Requirements
Applications to the University of Florida begin with the online application for admission and a non-refundable application fee. Students may apply for an application fee waiver. Students must demonstrate a satisfactory academic record with official transcripts from all educational institutions attended, as well as submit official test scores from the ACT or SAT. Some students may also need to take the TOEFL and submit those scores.
Graduate admission to the University of Florida requires that students submit items requested by the program they want to enter. For example, submitting an application to the university’s College of Engineering and one of its Ph.D. programs requires the official admission, admission fee, GRE test scores, and a statement of purpose. Students must also submit three letters of recommendation, all official transcripts, a resume, and a secondary application for fellowship assistance.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition at the University of Florida is based on whether the student is a Florida resident and whether he or she has decided to attend classes on campus or online. For Florida residents, the cost for tuition is $129.18 per credit hour for online study and $212.71 for students who attend classes on campus. Tuition rates include base tuition and required fees. Some students may also need to pay a distance learning fee.
For non-residents of Florida, the rate for the University of Florida online is $552.62 per credit hour, which includes tuition of $500.00 and required fees of $52.62. Non-residents who enroll in classes at the campus will pay $955.28 per credit hour, which includes tuition of $856.45 and required fees of $98.93. Non-residents, too, may need to pay a distance learning fee for some classes.
Submission of a FAFSA form is the first step in gaining financial assistance to attend the University of Florida. Financial aid awards are handled by the Office for Student Financial Affairs. Students who are local to the university’s campus are invited to visit and receive financial aid counseling services during the week. Students impacted by natural disasters in Florida may qualify for assistance through the Aid-a-Gator program, which helps students with temporary financial hardships due to hurricanes.
The university offers traditional student loans and grants through the federal student loan program, and students may also qualify for student employment opportunities and scholarships. Students should inquire with their department for information on departmental and institutional scholarships. Deadlines vary for institutional scholarships from the University of Florida, but students may need to submit additional scholarship applications.