University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF) is one of the largest public, research universities in the country and enrolls nearly 50,000 students annually. The school got its start as a small seminary in Ocala, Florida; it officially became a university in 1906 in Gainsville, Florida. UF's diverse academic offerings are administered among its 16 colleges, and qualifying students can enter the school's competitive honors programs. UF is known for its outstanding research in biotechnology and health care that is conducted by both its faculty and graduate students. UF also attracts bright students from around the world, and it ranks among the top 100 universities for international students. The school benefits from distinguished faculty and staff who are renown for research, service and excellence in teaching. Among the outstanding UF faculty are elected members of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts as well as Pulitzer Prize winners. The school's sunny locale in North Central Florida also makes it one of the best places to live according to national surveys.

University of Florida Accreditation Details

UF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Besides this overarching credential, UF also has earned some discipline specific accreditation credentials. For example, the UF School of Teaching and Learning is independently accredited by the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education. The UF College of Fine Arts and the associated School of Art are accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.

University of Florida Application Requirements

Admission into UF degree programs is a highly competitive process. For example, the average scholastic aptitude test scores and grade point averages (GPAs) of the incoming undergraduate freshmen for the Fall 2015 semester was 1918 and 4.3 respectively. Subsequently, students must submit their applications for admission in a timely and accurate manner. Application deadlines are located on the UF Admissions website or by contacting the Office of Admission by phone or email. Students at many academic levels that include traditional freshmen, transfer, international, graduate, distance learning, professional degree and specialty degree program candidates can apply online to UF using applications found on the university's website. Traditional undergraduate freshmen are required to provide information about their academic histories, GPAs, expected high school or equivalent graduation dates and standardized test scores in addition to the customary personal contact information that includes confirmation of state residence. A different application is required for freshmen and transfer students who want to apply to online degree programs at UF; these students must meet the university's general admission standards as well as the requirements for their chosen online degree programs. Special dates and deadlines for online programs are found under the university's website for distance learning programs; online Fall, Spring and Summer semesters consist of eight week sessions that begin in September, January and May respectively. Undergraduate transfer students must submit proof of 60 transferable college credits, meet the university's standards for diplomas or equivalencies, standardized test scores and grades to complete their applications into UF degree programs. Although the school's Master of Business Administration program requires a separate application, most graduate and doctoral students complete the application for graduate school admission. These students must provide the school with their undergraduate transcripts, applicable standardized test scores, resumes and letters of recommendation. Students who plan to earn professional degrees at UF like those in dentistry, medicine and physical therapy must meet the special requirements of their chosen programs in addition to the university's general admission standards. Professional degree seeking students also must include copies of professional certifications and special training that they have received when applying to UF. The school's non-refundable application fee of $30.00 must be submitted before applications are processed. A student who applies to UF expects to complete the entire application process online; they can also check the status of their application online after submitting alls required documentation and payments.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The average UF undergraduate takes 30 credit hours worth of classes per year. The cost per credit hour for undergraduate students who live in Florida is about $130; subsequently, a year's tuition fees for those students is $3,900. Undergraduate students who live in another state or country can expect to pay $500 per credit hour for their courses at UF, and their yearly tuition fees equate to approximately $15,000. Incoming UF graduate students who live in Florida expect to pay $448.73 per credit hour, and graduate students who do not live in Florida pay $690 per credit hour. Undergraduate students who are enrolled in online degree programs pay an additional fee of $29.43 per credit hour, and graduate online students pay an additional $75 per credit hour. However, out of state fees are waived for students who are enrolled in 100 percent online degree programs. Two thirds of UF students graduate without debt due to the university's low in state tuition rates and extensive financial aid programs. Students can apply for the standard federal financial aid loans as well as public and private scholarships, grants and work study programs. For example, graduate and doctoral students enrolled in the College of Education's traditional and online programs can take advantage of scholarships like the Glenda Ward Caro Fellowship in Education, Lincoln and Lillian Hall in Memory of Albert G. Hall Fellowship Fund, the Vernice Law Hearn Scholarship and the Began Doctoral Fellowship.

Online Degree Available

Online bachelor degree completion options are popular for many schools, but UF is unusual in that it offers a variety of online advanced degrees as well. For example, UF students can choose from among 74 online graduate and 10 online doctoral degree programs. The university's Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration is just one of the featured distance learning programs offered through its College of Education. This program offers the best of both traditional and online programs by blending formats. The program's classes are held online, and students attend three weekend sessions per semester at the UF campus or at other UF satellite campuses located throughout Florida. The Higher Education Administration degree prepares students with the skills and knowledge to move into university faculty administrative positions such as Dean of Students and Director of Student Affairs. The online Higher Education Administration degree program at UF is unique because it offers online students the same accredited, quality education as students who participate in the traditional Higher Education Administration degree program at UF expect to receive. Some course topics that students expect to take during the Higher Education Administration program are diversity challenges in higher education, international higher education and functions of college student personnel. The special financial aid options, verified degree program quality and flexible format make the online doctoral degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Florida a best value choice for Florida educators.