What Does It Cost to Attend the University of Florida?

Families sometimes make the mistake of assuming that public universities cost far less than their private school counterparts. However, that isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, research shows that public school pricing is on the rise, with tuition jumping a shocking 65% between the 2007-2008 and 2017-2018 academic years.

Located in Gainesville, the University of Florida is one of the country’s top-ranked public research universities. It can also be an expensive place to go to college. Learn more about why college costs can vary dramatically, along with what it really costs to attend UF.

Why College Costs Are Highly Variable

The list price for a college degree can easily give families sticker shock. While this number is typically lower at public universities than private colleges, that doesn’t mean the net price,  or actual cost of attendance, is always less as well. In fact, because they tend to have smaller endowments, public schools may have less funding available in the form of grants and scholarships. In particular, students living out of state may pay the same to attend a public school as they would a private one.

Before making a decision about where to attend school, it pays to look at the net prices for all the colleges on your list. A college’s financial aid net price is determined by adding up the value of all scholarships and grants a student receives and subtracting it from the list price.

What Is the List Price at the University of Florida?

Because the University of Florida is a public school, students pay different rates for in-state and out-of-state tuition. For the 2016-2017 school year, students who resided in state paid $21,251 to attend UF. Out-of-state students paid $43,529. In general, the cost of tuition was less for families making less than $175,000 as well as applicants in the top 30%.

What Is the University of Florida Financial Aid Net Price?

Financial aid has a significant impact on net prices at the University of Florida, with in-state students seeing the biggest benefit. For the 2016-2017 academic year, in-state students paid an average net price of $18,989, while out-of-state applicants paid $41,267.

What Is the Family Income-Based Cost of Attending the University of Florida?

The amount you pay to attend UF will vary based on your family income level. Average net tuition prices at this university are below:

How Much Merit Aid Do the University of Florida Students Receive?

Students at the University of Florida receive relatively little merit-based aid. Just 10.5% of UF students get this type of funding, with the average award amount of $260.

How Many University of Florida Students Take Out Loans?

Loans can help make a college degree more affordable. At the University of Florida, around 50% of students take out loans to finance their education. Currently, the average UF student borrows $2,566 over the course of their college career.

Ways to Save Money on College

Scholarship opportunities can help students save money on the cost of college. One of the best-known options, the National Merit Scholarship program offers around 15,000 scholarships a year to students in the top 1 percent of PSAT test-takers. Check out the University of Florida scholarship page to learn more about ways to finance your degree.

Depending on your family income level, you might qualify for a work-study position at the University of Florida. These jobs usually allow students plenty of time to study and do homework. If you don’t qualify for work-study, think about finding a part time job in the Greater Gainesville area.

Student Outcomes at the University of Florida

Families need to consider student outcomes when making decisions about college. For the University of Florida, around 84% of students graduate in six years, so parents can feel relatively confident that their children will finish on time. A decade after graduating, the average UF student was making $56,600, giving the school a solid return on investment.

Local Area Cost Considerations

Compared to other cities in the United States., Gainesville is a relatively affordable place to live and go to school. This city in Northern Florida has a cost of living index of 95.6, meaning it’s less expensive than the U.S. average. Students who reside off campus can expect to pay $790 for a one-bedroom rental, $968 for a two-bedroom, and $1264 for a three-bed apartment. Opting to live with one or two roommates is a great way to keep housing costs low while attending school.

Thinking of working while earning your degree? The average salary in Gainesville is $43,931, and the state has a minimum hourly wage of $8.46 as of 2019.

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